smoky quartz, Stone of Power
In the realm of dark stones, Smoky Quartz offers a rare and beautiful transparency that draws light into shades of black and brown. With crystals as pale and surreal as a wisp of smoke, as dark and clear as midnight waters, or as warm and rich as a cognac by the fire, this mineral honors its connection with Mother Earth.
It is a talisman of the Root Chakra, an anchor in the natural world, drawing white light energy from the Crown down through the body to be deeply rooted into the physical plane. It initiates movement of primal forces within the body and activates one’s survival instincts in a purified way. It brings strength and stability, and a sense of personal pride in walking the Earth and inhabiting a human form. Although Smoky Quartz grounds nearly all the negativity it absorbs into the Earth, its vigilance is constant. Energetically cleansing this crystal on a regular basis is still recommended.
Smoky Quartz is readily found in many locations around the world. A variety of Quartz, it is a silicon dioxide mineral ranging in color from pale, smoky gray to deep brown and black, sometimes yellowish-brown. Though Scottish named, the origin of the word morion may have come from the Greek term for “baneful or hideous,” or from the French moreau, meaning “black.” The name may also relate to quadertz, an old German word for a bad mineral. In any event, morion is the German, Danish, Spanish and Polish synonym for Smoky Quartz. Smoky Quartz has also been erroneously marketed as “Smoky Topaz.” Smoky Quartz was, and is still, a favorite ornamental stone of the Scottish dirk, or sgian dubh (Gaelic for “black dagger”) - a long straight-bladed dagger with a black handle made of bog oak, a hard jet-black wood. This small but deadly weapon was customarily carried in a place of concealment, often under the armpit. When calling on another household, protocol dictated all weapons, including claymore or broadsword, dirk, a pair of pistols and a horn, all be left at the front door. Because of rapidly shifting loyalties, however, Highlanders usually kept their sgian dubh close at hand, even when visiting “friends,” but out of courtesy to the host would remove it from under the armpit and place it where it could be seen, typically in the stocking. [glimmerdream.com] A sphere of Smoky Quartz currently displayed in the British Museum is reputed to be the famous “shew-stone” of Dr. John Dee, the alchemist, mathematician, astrologer, magician, and court diviner to Queen Elizabeth I of England.
Smoky Quartz honors Hecate, the Thracian Goddess of Wisdom, Crossroads and Ghosts. She is also Goddess of the Occult and the Dark Moon, the side we are unable to see. She has power over the heavens, earth and the underworld.
Smoky Quartz honors Gaia, the Greek Earth Mother Goddess. Born directly out of Chaos, the primal emptiness, she was the first (or one of the first) beings to appear during the process of creation, and is honored as being the Earth itself.
References:-
[Ahsian, pp.] Robert Simmons & Naisha Ahsian, The Book of Stones (Berkley, CA: North Atlantic Books, 2007).
[Eason, pp. ]Cassandra Eason, The New Crystal Bible (London: Carlton Books Ltd., 2010).
[Fernie, pp.] William T. Fernie, The Occult and Curative Powers of Precious Stones (Blauvelt, NY: Rudolph Steiner Publications, 1973).
[Gienger, pp.] Michael Gienger, Healing Crystals (Scotland: Earthdancer Books, 2009).
[Hall, pp.] Judy Hall, The Crystal Bible (Cincinnati, OH: Walking Stick Press, 2003).
[Hall 2, pp.]Judy Hall, The Crystal Bible 2 (Cincinnati, OH: Walking Stick Press, 2009).
[Kunz, pp.] George Frederick Kunz, The Curious Lore of Precious Stones (New York: Dover Publications, 1971).
[Megemont, pp.] Florence Megemont, The Metaphysical Book of Gems and Crystals (Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press, 2008).
[Melody, pp.] Melody, Love Is In The Earth (Wheat Ridge, CO: Earth-Love Publishing House, 1995).
[Raphaell, pp.] Katrina Raphaell, Crystal Enlightenment (Santa Fe, NM: Aurora Press, 1985)
[Simmons, pp.] Robert Simmons & Naisha Ahsian, The Book of Stones (Berkley, CA: North Atlantic Books, 2007).