Fluorite

From the Latin word fluo or fluere meaning “to flow” or “to flux” and also known as fluorspar or fluor, fluorite is a stunning crystal found in many areas of the world including China, Germany, England, Italy, Switzerland, Norway, Brazil, Canada, parts of America, Mexico and Russia. Fluorite has a hardness rating of 4.0 therefore is more suited to use in jewellery and ornaments however it also has industrial uses including being used as a flux (i.e. to remove oxidation from the metals to facilitate soldering, brazing, and welding), as part of the manufacturing process of opalescent glass, enamels and cooking utensils and to make hydrofluoric acid.

In its pure form, fluorite is clear, however, it is common for fluorite to appear in various shades thereby earning its reputation as the most colourful mineral in the world. The colours of fluorite include purple, blue, green, red, pink, yellow and black often with more than one colour present in a single specimen.

Another interesting quality of fluorite is hinted at in the relation to the word fluorescent. Due to natural impurities that occur in fluorite, such as the presence of europium ions or yttrium, some specimens of fluorite fluoresce under ultra violet light. Depending on the impurities and the region in which the fluorite formed, the colours and intensity of the fluorescent glow (and sometimes phosphorescent glow, which is the continuation of the glow once the UV light is removed, and thermoluminescent glow, which is the ability to glow when heated) can vary.

Fluorite is popular for carvings due to its interesting and varied appearance as well as its versatility in healing and magic. Fluorite can be used to absorb and neutralise negative vibrations and can also enhance the characteristics of other stones, particularly when harmonised with the colours of the particular piece of fluorite being used.

Sometimes referred to as the Genius Stone or the Third Eye Stone, fluorite is used in meditation, placement or spell work relating to the mental plane. It is an excellent aid to increase concentration, decision making and also works with your higher self and can help to bring the knowledge gained in such interactions into the mundane world.

Fluorite corresponds with the astrological signs of Capricorn and Pisces and with the elements of air and water. Magical uses include:

• Assists in meditation
• Brings order to chaos
• Cleanses other stones and crystals
• Clears blockages
• Clears communications
• Clears the aura
• Clears the mind
• Enhances mental processing
• Healing
• Heightens intuition
• Protects from physic manipulation
• Releases negative energy

Fluorite can assist with the following physical conditions in conjunction with appropriate medical treatment:

• Bone problems
• Dental problems
• Disorganised thought or Attention Deficit Disorder
• DNA
• Eye, ear, nose and throat problems
• Infections
• Intestinal problems
• RNA and cell damage

What is Alomancy?

Alomancy is an ancient divination method using salt. It is also called Adromancy, ydromancie, idromancie, and halomancy and derives from the Greek words ‘halo’ meaning salt and ‘manteia’ meaning divination or prophecy.

While there are a number of ways to perform alomancy, there are four methods that are the most common:

• The diviner tosses fine salt crystals into the air and to “read” or interpret the patterns made as the salt particles travel through the air.

• The diviner tosses salt into the air but the reading occurs based on the way the salt lands and the patterns that are formed on the surface (usually the ground or a table) that they land on. This method typically employs larger grains of salt than the first.

• Salt is tossed into a fire and the reading is performed based on the colour, height, speed and direction of the flames that result. This is also a form of pyromancy, which is fire-based divination.

• Salt residue is “read” after a mixture of salty water is allowed to evaporate from a bowl or surface.

The choice of salt as a tool in this divination method is related to the element of chance required in alomancy (as with a number of divination methods) as well as the correlation between salt and good luck. In ancient times, salt was a rare and valuable commodity, therefore those who were able to afford salt were those who it was felt were living a life of good fortune. Further, while salt was known to prolong the life of food, it was not known exactly how this occurred and was therefore thought that bad spirits caused food to go off and it was the salt that kept the bad spirits at bay. Salt was also thought of as a purifier.

A related superstition is where a person will throw a pinch of salt over his or her left shoulder using their right hand following salt being spilled. Spilling salt was believed to be a pre-curser to bad luck although the reasons for this varied from it being a misfortune to waste such a valuable item, which would invoke the displeasure of presiding deities, the actions or interference of the devil or a bad spirit who frequently seek to disturb the peace or because guardian angels (who are said to sit over your right shoulder) use this as a means to warn a person of impending danger. Either way, it was believed that the act of spilling salt meant that the person susceptible to bad spirits, who were said to sit over a person’s left shoulder (sometimes called the ‘sinister’ side) so throwing the salt over the left shoulder would ward off the bad spirits, or in the case of Christian beliefs it would be throwing salt in the eyes of the devil so you were no longer within his sights for further attack. It was believed that this needed to be done immediately after the spill to minimise the window of opportunity for the bad luck to strike.

Other superstitions regarding salt and bad spirits include the practice of throwing salt over your shoulder before you enter your house after attending a funeral, which is believe to scare off any spirits that may be clinging to your back, and placing it in a room, either in the corners or directly in the centre, to cleanse or purify the area.

Calling The Quarters Poem

This is a poem I wrote that can be used as part of ritual to call in the quarters.

May the powers of the north ignite
The fire in my heart,
And join with me here on this night
Be with me as I start.
May your elemental strength be lent
In protection and in power
To reinforce my pure intent
In this and every hour.

May the powers of the west fulfil
The earth and all her needs
And join with me from now until
The completion of these deeds.
May your elemental strength be lent
In protection and in grounding
To reinforce my pure intent
With love and light abounding.

May the powers of the South inspire
The creative air within
And join with me here to admire
My imagining.
May your elemental strength be lent
In protection and in thought
To reinforce my pure intent
And deliver all that’s sought.

May the powers of the east enhance
The flow of water clear,
And join with me as I advance
With visions of a seer.
May your elemental strength be lent
In protection and in love
To reinforce my pure intent
From beneath me and above.