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Lapis
Lazuli (or Lapis for short) is a rock and not a mineral because it is made up of
various other minerals. It is
composed of a mixture of several minerals including mostly Lazurite, Pyrite,
Calcite and Diopside, along with possible inclusions of Sodalite, Huaynite,
Noselite, Mica, Augite or Hornblende in small amounts.
Lapis usually occurs in crystalline limestones as a result of contact
metamorphism.
The
name Lapis Lazuli comes from a variety of words meaning "blue" (azure)
or "heaven": the Latin "lazulum", stemming from the Arabic
"lazaward", and the Persian "lazhward" constitute the Lazuli
part. The first part of the name,
Lapis, is of Latin origin meaning simply "stone".
And this stone was named after its likeness to the heavens and of course
because of its color -- a brilliant deep blue (due to the sulfur content in the
Lazurite) which is usually speckled or veined with small flecks of yellow-gold
color from its most common mixture with Pyrite (Fool's Gold) or white streaks
from its mixture with Calcite or other minerals.
Lapis
Lazuli is a semi-precious stone valued for its deep blue color and durability.
Though too many white streaks of Calcite will lower the value of the
stone.
Chemistry:
(Na, Ca)8 Al6 Si6 (O,S)24 [(SO4),Cl2,(OH)2], Sodium
Calcium
Aluminum Silicate Sulfur Sulfate (with usual inclusions of Pyrite and Calcite).
Class:
Silicates
Subclass:
Tectosilicates
Group:
Both the Sodalite and Feldspathoid groups.
Color:
Deep brilliant blue or violet-blue with golden flecks or veins, and
occasionally white streaks.
Luster:
Dull to greasy. Translucent to opaque.
Crystal
System: Isometric; bar 4 3/m
Crystal
Habit: Massive as a rock (Lapis
Lazuli) forming mineral, but dodecahedral crystals have been found of Lazurite.
Cleavage:
Poor. In six directions, but rarely seen.
Fracture:
Uneven.
Hardness:
5.0 - 5.5
Specific
Gravity: 2.3 - 2.4 (somewhat below
average, but shows higher with increased Pyrite content).
Streak:
Bright Blue.
Other
Characteristics: Index of refraction is 1.5.
Notable
Occurrences: Kokcha River Valley, Afghanistan; Ovalle, Cordillera, Chile;
Lake Baikal, Russia; Mt. Vesuvius, Italy; Cascade Canyon, San Bernardino
Mountains and Ontario Peak, California and in the Sawatch Mountains, Colorado,
USA.
Best
Field Indicators: Violet-blue color, Pyrite inclusions, locality and specific
gravity.
Uses:
Jewelry; Ornamental; Pigment; Mineral specimens.
Mines,
in what is known as the Badakshan area of Afghanistan today, were being worked
for Lapis at least six thousand years ago.
This source of Lapis may be the oldest continually worked set of mines in
the world, as the same mines operating today supplied the sought-after stone to
the pharaohs. Believed to have occult powers, Lapis Lazuli was often made
into amulets and talismans. In Ur,
kings were known to sharpen their swords on it, believing from this they would
become invulnerable. The stone was
also used by the Assyrians and Persians for making seals.
The
Sumerians believed that Lapis Lazuli contained the spirits of the deities.
In ancient Egypt it was often used as an inscription stone for various
passages from "The Book of the Dead" wherein the 140th chapter it
states that Lapis in the shape of an eye and set in gold was an amulet of great
power. Egyptians regarded it as the
stone of the gods, partly because it reminded them of the starry heavens, but
also because, as shown in the Papyrus Ebers, it had medicinal properties that
improved eyesight when worn in the form of the Eye of Horus amulet or when
powdered around the eyes as many Egyptian did.
Lapis
Lazuli was one of the stones in the "Breastplate of Judgement" of
Aaron, as described in the Bible. In
ancient times, Lapis Lazuli was known as Sapphire (not to be confused with
today's blue corundum variety Sapphire). Ancient
writers such as Pliny refer to "sapphirus" as a stone speckled with
flects 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.
Due to its rarity and expense, today that color pigment is usually now
synthetically made.
Astrological
Sign(s): Sagittarius, Aquarius
Chakra(s):
Brow and Crown
Opens
the Third Eye.
Awakens
the intuition.
Enhances
insight and awareness.
Brings
knowledge and wisdom.
Increases
vibrational level.
Connects
to Spirit.
Helps
in meditations and dream work.
Promote
peace.
Harmonizes
and balances.
Protective.
Blocks
psychic attack.
*Gives
physical aid in treating: Fevers. Headaches and migraines.
Alleviates pain. Depression and melancholy. Anxiety. Insomnia. Vision and
hearing problems. Disorders of the
throat, lungs and immune system.
*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.
Lapis
Lazuli is my "Awareness" stone. Whenever
I am not quite getting the whole picture on something that is remaining obscure
to me for some reason...that's the time I grab the Lapis.
And I had to make use of this stone just recently for that very reason.
Known
for imparting ancient knowledge and (just as important) the wisdom on how to use
that knowledge, Lapis is very helpful in bringing you into that state of
awareness where you can better connect with your Higher Self or communicate with
your Spirit Guides. Rich and highly
stimulating, it's easy to quickly feel the intense and royal powers of the stone
lift you to new heights of thought, consciousness and awareness.
I've
used Lapis in ceremonial Ritual...during meditations...and sometimes I'll place
a small piece inside my pillowcase at night if I'm having trouble remembering my
dreams, or if I want to increase the amount of or vibrational level of my
dreams. It is really useful when
seeking particular knowledge in an area in which you feel befuddled or confused.
The crisp, clear, stellar answers come to you like a beacon in the night.
Feeling
that the stone was the best of the best when it came to spiritual stones, the
"Sleeping Prophet", Edgar Cayce, recommending carrying a piece of
Lapis Lazuli with you at all times wherever you go.
I used to. And I think it's
time I go back to doing just that.
"The
Illustrated Directory of Healing Crystals" ~ Cassandra Eason
http://mineral.galleries.com/minerals/silicate/lazurite/lazurite.htm
http://www.mineralminers.com/html/lapminfo.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lapis_lazuli
http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/jo/minerals/lapis.htm
Website:
http://www.peacefulpaths.com/
Let there be peace in the world - Where have all the flowers gone?
My Personal Page / My Place in England, UK / My Family Tree (Ancestry)
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Correspondence Tables:
Incense / Candles / Colours / Magickal Days / Stones and Gems / Elements and Elementals
Traditions Part 1 - Alexandrian Wicca / Aquarian Tabernacle Church (ATC) / Ár Ndraíocht Féin (ADF) / Blue Star Wicca / British Traditional (Druidic Witchcraft) / Celtic Wicca / Ceremonial Magic / Chaos Magic / Church and School of Wicca / Circle Sanctuary / Covenant of the Goddess (COG) / Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans (CUUPS) / Cyber Wicca / Dianic Wicca / Eclectic Wicca / Feri Wicca /
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3 / A
history of the Malleus Maleficarum: includes: Pope
Innocent VIII /
The
papal Bull /
The
Malleus Maleficarum /
An extract from the Malleus Maleficarum
/ The letter of approbation
/ Johann
Nider’s Formicarius /
Jacob
Sprenger /
Heinrich Kramer /
Stefano Infessura
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The Waldenses
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The Hussites / The
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/ Shielding (Occult
and Psychic Protection) /
Sabbats in History and Mythology / Samhain (October 31st) / Yule (December 21st) / Imbolc (February 2nd) / Ostara (March 21st) / Beltane (April 30th) / Litha (June 21st) / Lughnasadh (August 1st) / Mabon (September 21st)
Rituals contributed by Crone: Samhain / Yule / Imbolc / Ostara / Beltane / Litha / Lammas / Mabon
Tools of a Witch / The Besom (Broom) / Poppets and Dolls / Pendulums / Cauldron Magick / Mirror Gazing
Animals in Witchcraft (The Witches Familiar) / Antelope / Bats / Crow / Fox / Frog and Toads / Goat / Honeybee / Kangaroo / Lion / Owl / Phoenix / Rabbits and Hares / Raven / Robin Redbreast / Sheep / Spider / Squirrel / Swans / Wild Boar / Wolf / Serpent / Pig / Stag / Horse / Mouse / Cat
In Worship of Trees - Myths, Lore and the Celtic Tree Calendar. For descriptions and correspondences of the thirteen sacred trees of Wicca/Witchcraft see the following: Birch / Rowan / Ash / Alder / Willow / Hawthorn / Oak / Holly / Hazel / Vine / Ivy / Reed / Elder. Also see: The Willow Tree (Folk Music)
Mystical Sacred Sites - Stonehenge / Glastonbury Tor / Malta - The Hypogeum of Hal Saflieni / Avebury / Cerne Abbas - The Chalk Giant / Ireland - Newgrange /
Rocks and Stones:
Stones - History, Myths and Lore
Articles contributed by Patricia Jean Martin: / Apophyllite / Amber / Amethyst / Aquamarine / Aragonite / Aventurine / Black Tourmaline / Bloodstone / Calcite / Carnelian / Celestite / Citrine / Chrysanthemum Stone / Diamond / Emerald / Fluorite / Garnet / Hematite / Herkimer Diamond / Labradorite / Lapis Lazuli / Malachite / Moonstone / Obsidian / Opal / Pyrite / Quartz (Rock Crystal) / Rose Quartz / Ruby / Selenite / Seraphinite / Silver and Gold / Smoky Quartz / Sodalite / Sunstone / Thunderegg / Tree Agate / Zebra Marble
Wisdom:
Knowledge vs Wisdom by Ardriana Cahill / I Talk to the Trees / Awakening / The Witch in You / A Tale of the Woods
Articles and Stories about Witchcraft:
Murder by Witchcraft / The Fairy Witch of Clonmel / A Battleship, U-boat, and a Witch / The Troll-Tear (A story for Children) / Goody Hawkins - The Wise Goodwife / The Story of Jack-O-Lantern / The Murder of the Hammersmith Ghost / Josephine Gray (The Infamous Black Widow) / The Two Brothers - Light and Dark
Old Masters of Academia:
Pliny the Elder / Hesiod / Pythagoras
Abramelin the Mage / Agrippa / Aidan A. Kelly / Albertus Magnus “Albert the Great” / Aleister Crowley “The Great Beast” / Alex Sanders "the King of the Witches” / Alison Harlow / Amber K / Anna Franklin / Anodea Judith / Anton Szandor LaVey / Arnold Crowther / Arthur Edward Waite / Austin Osman Spare / Biddy Early / Bridget Cleary / Carl Llewellyn Weschcke / Cecil Hugh Williamson / Charles Godfrey Leland / Charles Walton / Christina Oakley Harrington / Damh the Bard (Dave Smith) / Dion Fortune / Dolores Aschroft-Nowicki / Dorothy Morrison / Doreen Valiente / Edward Fitch / Eleanor Ray Bone “Matriarch of British Witchcraft” / Dr. John Dee and Edward Kelly / Dr. Leo Louis Martello / Eliphas Levi / Ernest Thompson Seton / Ernest Westlake and the Order of Woodcraft Chivalry / Fiona Horne / Friedrich von Spee / Francis Barrett / Gerald B. Gardner / Gavin and Yvonne Frost and the School and Church of Wicca / Gwydion Pendderwen / Hans Holzer / Helen Duncan / Herman Slater "Horrible Herman" / Israel Regardie / James "Cunning" Murrell / Janet Farrar & Gavin Bone / Jessie Wicker Bell “Lady Sheba” / John Belham-Payne / John George Hohman / John Gerard / John Gordon Hargrave (the White Fox) / John Michael Greer / John Score / Johannes Junius the Burgomaster of Bamberg / Joseph John Campbell / Karl von Eckartshausen / Laurie Cabot "the Official Witch of Salem" / Lewis Spence / Margaret Alice Murray / Margot Adler / Marie Laveau the " Voodoo Queen of New Orleans" / Marion Weinstein / Matthew Hopkins “The Witch-Finder General” / Max Ehrmann and the Desiderata / Monique Wilson the “Queen of the Witches” / Montague Summers / Nicholas Culpeper / Nicholas Remy / M. R. Sellers / Mrs. Grieve "A Modern Herbal" / Oberon and Morning Glory Zell-Ravenheart / Old Dorothy Clutterbuck / Old George Pickingill / Paddy Slade / Pamela Colman-Smith / Paracelsus / Patricia Crowther / Patricia Monaghan / Patricia “Trish” Telesco / Philip Emmons Isaac Bonewits / Philip Heselton / Raymond Buckland / Reginald Scot / Robert Cochrane / Robert ‘von Ranke’ Graves and "The White Goddess" /
Rudolf Steiner / Rosaleen Norton “The Witch of Kings Cross” / Ross Nichols and The Order of Bards, Ovates & Druids / Sabrina - The Ink Witch / Scott Cunningham / Selena Fox / Silver Ravenwolf / Sir Francis Dashwood / Sir James George Frazer / S.L. MacGregor Mathers and the “Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn” / Starhawk / Stewart Farrar / Sybil Leek / Ted Andrews / The Mather Family - includes: Richard Mather, Increase Mather, Cotton Mather / Thomas Ady / Vera Chapman / Victor Henry Anderson / Vivianne Crowley / Walter Brown Gibson / William Butler Yeats / Zsuzsanna Budapest
Many of the above biographies are brief and far from complete. If you know about any of these individuals and can help with aditional information, please cantact me privately at my email address below. Many thanks for reading :-)
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http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Email_Witches
Help send a message of peace around the world! The Dove of Peace flies from site to site, through as many countries as possible. It does not belong to ANY belief system. Please help make a line around the globe by taking it with you to your site, by giving it to someone for their site, by passing it on to another continent or to the conflict areas of the world. May trouble and strife be vanquished in it's path.
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