Hey and crystal blessings! The astrological weather today is a little foggy, with the moon in limbo between lighthearted Gemini and emotional Cancer - you might spend the day feeling a little bit foggy, and should burn some lemongrass incense to help give you some needed mental clarity. The second-quarter waxing crescent (which will be beautiful tonight) will finally enter sentimental cancer tonight around 9 o'clock P.M., and over the next few days you might be feeling a little touchy, overly-sensitive, needy, or even clingy toward those you love. But don't worry, this will pass in a few short days when the moon moves toward outgoing Leo on Friday March 18th. In the meantime, we're eagerly awaiting what is going to be a STUNNING Lunar Eclipse in Libra next week, which might shake up your closest relationships a bit (in addition to all the typical full moon effects, amplified).
But anyway, today I wanted to talk a little bit about the manmade crystals, which seem to have snuck into the New Age Market. Before I tell you a little bit about who they are and what they do, first, a little disclaimer: while I admit to having a lab-grown bismuth and an opalite in my crystal collection, I would pretty much advise you to stay away from the man-made "stones". While often beautiful, and typically considered to carry energetic properties (though even this is pretty heavily disputed by some well-respected voices in the crystal healing community), there are simply too many beautiful and powerful crystals that are NOT man-made to waste your time chasing artificially manufactured glass. But, if this disclaimer doesn't deter you, read on to learn about the four major ones you will likely come across on your crystal journey.
1.) OPALITE. Not to be confused with OPAL, which it has nothing to do with and is completely unrelated to, Opalite is synthetically opalized glass with a distinct milky white appearance. It is intended to energetically mimic the properties of Tiffany Stone, a beautiful mineral that you are realistically probably never going to encounter on your crystal journey due to its rarity. Opalite is said to be beneficial to the crown chakra and therefore help you on all your psychic endeavors - incorporate it into your tarot card readings, meditate with it for a cool experience, or carry it with you to fine-tune your psychic abilities. Additionally, this stone is also said to help express yourself emotionally if this is something you struggle with. For a little help with this, use Opalite in conjunction with Aquamarine, Amazonite, and/or Blue Lace Agate. Physically, Opalite is said to balance and stabilize the hormones, particularly in younger people.
2.) GAIA STONE. This is probably my favorite of the lab-grown crystals. Gaia Stone is artificially manufactured green glass, and supposedly is made with Volcanic Ash from Mount St. Helen's - assuming this is true (don't buy Gaia Stone from a sketchy source) this is actually a pretty cool companion to work with. Gaia Stone is particularly protective of women, so is wonderful to use when you need a touch of feminine strength, and also helps to attract love, abundance, and good fortune, and makes a wonderful gift to your sweetie because it promotes the growth of love and intimacy. This is also a powerful emotional healer and stabilizer, helping to release fear of the unknown, calm anxiety, and help you adjust to a new routine.
3.) ANDARA GLASS. This is one of the most heavily disputed man-made crystals, because some healers LOVE it, claiming it to be some sort of master healer, while others maintain that, like all man-made crystals, it is merely a piece of glass and a rip-off. Like Gaia Stone, Andara Glass is allegedly made with natural materials, though you can assume this is definitely not always the case. If you do choose to work with Andara Glass, it is said to be a really nice receptacle for spell-work or intention-setting, and also helps to protect against EMS (the negative, harmful energy emitted by technology.) Physically, those who use it claim it to be a master healer, bringing the entire body into balance. Of course, Clear Quartz is also a fine receptacle for intentions and spellwork, and Amazonite, Sodalite, Fluorite, Black tourmaline, and/or Malachite are always my go-to crystals for protecting against EMS.
4.) BISMUTH. While Bismuth is actually a base metal that IS found in nature, the stunning, multi-colored bismuth sold everywhere in New Age stores is lab-grown. However, it seems to be widely embraced in the crystal healing community, appearing in pretty much every New Age/Mineral shop, including the most respectable. The lab-grown stuff is intended to mimic the energetic signature of the real thing, and you can use it when you need a little boost of energy - use Carnelian for a natural alternative or supplement to this.
So, now that you know a little bit about the alleged properties of the man-made "stones," you can decide for yourself if you want to add any of these to your collection. While you can research all day what the "experts" are saying, the choice is yours. But it is worth mentioning that none of these "stones" have properties that cannot be found in the world of natural minerals, so they are DEFINITELY not a necessity.
Blessings!!
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