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The Magic of Rocks and StonesTree Agate
Written and compiled by - Patricia Jean MartinThere are many different types of Agate, but I chose Tree Agate for Lammas ~ the First Harvest. Not only is there a connection with the symbolism of the Green Man, but the properties of this particular form of Agate are strongly connected to the growth and well-being of plant life and agriculture - something which was extremely important to the survival of our ancestors. Known as the "Stone of Plentitude", Tree Agate brings prosperity and abundance, especially in the form of bountiful crops and generous yields...and that is very much what Lammas is all about. Tree
Agate, also known as Dendritic Agate or Moss Agate, is an opaque
cryptocrystalline variety of Chalcedony Quartz. As its alternate name
Dendritic Agate suggests, this unique stone's Chlorite, Manganese or
Hornblende inclusions make it appear to have distinctive mossy or
tree-like markings. These markings are called dendrites, a name derived
from "dendron", the Greek word for "tree". Agate gets
its name from the river Achates in Sicily where it was first discovered. Today, the dealers of ornamental stone have segregated Tree Agates into several categories and have given each a different name to designate their slight differences. Whereas Tree Agate is usually an opaque and mostly white stone with its characteristic green mossy inclusions, Moss Agate is differentiated as the mostly green translucent type. Dendritic Agate is often marketed as either variety. Agate is formed from silica rich deposits in veins or within cavities of basaltic rock and occurs mainly in nodular massive forms. Being a form of Quartz, it's hardness is 7 on the Mohs Scale (Talc being 1 and Diamond 10), and it's streak is white. The Tree Agate variety is found primarily in western U.S., Scotland, Brazil, India, Russia and China. Myth
& Lore
Wearing
Tree Agate is said to bring favor of the gods. The ancient Greeks noted
Tree Agate as a stone of abundance and would sow some into their
fields to ensure a good and plentiful harvest. Placing Tree
Agate in your own garden is said to help increase the fertility of your
plants and produce healthy vibrant flowers and foliage. Small agates
were hung in fruit trees to bring about a more prolific yield. And
often used as a talisman by shamans, Tree Agate was also used to predict
weather, guard against natural disasters, and for locating food and water.
It was used to divine the degree of strength or weakness of their sick.
Afterward, it would be used as an elixir to dispel the sickness. This sturdy stone encourages communication with the deities of the plant kingdom and can deepen your knowledge of their realm. It will also prompt you to renew and revitalize your own personal connection to the Earth and her life-giving powers. As the other two Harvest Festivals approach (and especially Samhain), Tree Agate can be used to connect us with our ancestors...our roots...providing for an uncanny openness to communication with the spirit world. Agate is said to have been one of the stones used in the breastplate of the Judaic High Priest. Early Egyptians fashions drinking vessels out of this versatile stone. Tree Agate was a favorite stone used in jewelry in the Victorian era. And more currently, children's marbles were once made of Agate and subsequently called "aggies". Metaphysical
Properties of Tree Agate
Tree Agate brings strength and stability, the power to persevere, and the ability to meet a challenge of working one's harvest with greater stamina. As these qualities become rooted in your being, you will find yourself much more open to receive the prosperity and abundance that is likely to manifest all around you through the influence of this stone - a stone which helps you bring your 'harvest home'. Tree Agate will also bring the intricacies of life into better focus, encouraging you to be able to better see the connectivity of the branches within life's web, and will then help you keep from getting too caught up in all its details. Tree Agate tells you not to miss the forest for the trees. It pushes you to enjoy the busyness of any season of harvest without getting overwhelmed by it, by asking you to remember just what truly is important. Use Tree Agate to enrich your life, to bring expansion yet stability to your surroundings, to enhance your own growth and feelings of self-worth, and to branch out and discover the unique treasures of family and friends. *For health, Tree Agate has been used to help heal disorders of the nervous system, and relieves exhaustion. It aids in bone structure problems in the skeletal system, and vein and capillary degeneration within the circulatory system. It is useful for relief from general pain, but has also been used to squelch hypochondria, as the stone carries a strong calm and centering influence. *NOTE:Stone therapy should NOT take the place of medical evaluation and procedures, and should be used merely to enhance one's health and well-being. Magickally,
you can use Tree Agate in growth and expansion workings. This
stone excels at attracting abundance, prosperity, and fruitful "crops" of
all kinds. Its powers are in vitality, strength, family and
tradition. Tree Agates are often used in empowerment rituals and in
health and protection spells. It excels as a talisman, and
can bestow ancient forest wisdom. This stone's primary Element
is Earth, and it is associated with the astrological signs of Taurus and
Capricorn. To charge and cleanse these fruitful beauties, place them
back into the earth's soil for a day and a night, then rinse in a stream of free-flowing
water. *** May your walk through the garden of life, and what seeds you've planted there, come to fruition in a most beautifully abundant way! Blessed Be. Sources:"The
Illustrated Directory of Healing Crystals" by Cassandra Eason http://www.mineralminers.com/html/agaminfo.htm Photo
by Patricia J. Martin ©
Patricia J. Martin, July 10, 2008
Website: http://www.peacefulpaths.com/
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