How many of us are feeling so lethargic, unmotivated, uninspired, and just well....energetically stagnant during this Quarantine time? I know I've been suffering tremendously (the biggest reason there's been such a lack of posting and podcasting) and honestly just cannot seem to hold onto the desire to get anything done at all. I look over my to-do list and instantly am overwhelmed. As someone who believes we should listen to our bodies, I allowed myself time to rest and not expect much from myself but after a couple of weeks, I desperately needed to shift things up....which is when I was drawn to my crystals with the reminder of how powerful our crystal allies can be.
As I dug through my stones, reorganizing them after having set them out to charge this past full moon, I found myself pulling out all my carnelian (which isn't much--surprising, considering how much I adore this stone!). It clicked almost immediately as I recognized how appropriate carnelian would be for me during this time and as I was thinking of how I wanted to use it, I figured I would write a post for those who may not know about this amazing crystal!
I do recommend it for beginners as it's easy to obtain and isn't very pricey. Now, if you don't own any Carnelian and don't want to order any online (I totally understand that!), I am going to share a method below that can help you still work with and attune to this crystal so I implore you to keep reading!
Many people would recognize Carnelian by it's stunning orange color which can range from pale orange to a deep red-orange and depending on the color, can slightly change some of the correspondences. However, Carnelian is still carnelian so the correspondences I share below will still apply, regardless. This stone is a variety of Chalcedony with a Mohs hardness of 7 and is found in Brazil, India, and Uruguay. It's a stone that is associated with the Sacral Chakra--in fact, it's THE crystal I use for that chakra. No kidding...only Carnelian.
Remember how I said I had been feeling so uninspired, unmotivated, and lacking any sort of drive or energy?
Well, Carnelian is great for all of those so I don't have to pull out an assortment of stones. Instead I can utilize this one crystal! It helps get the energy flowing, instilling us with a sense of motivation and drive, along with reigniting vitality and creativity.
Additionally, Carnelian can be used for:
Imbuing a Sense of Courage--especially when it comes to making life changes and beginning new projects
Increasing Sexual Energy
Boosting Fertility*
Improving Blood Flow*
Stimulating Metabolism*
Alleviating or Easing Menstrual and Menopausal Symptoms*
Promoting Good Luck
Helping with the Absorption of Vitamins*
Aiding with Lower Back Pain and Arthritis*
Assisting in Detoxing the Body*
Being Present
Overcoming and Healing from Abuse*
Enable us to Push Past Procrastination
Embrace Change
*I am not a medical professional so nothing I write should be taken as medical advice. Please consult with a physician regarding any medical issues you may have. The above correspondences are listed as they are associated with crystal healing but as I stated, I am not a physician and this is not, in any way, shape or form, medical advice.*
I have found that Carnelian is commonly associated with the Egyptian Goddess Isis but I always associate it with the Egyptian Goddess Hathor as She is solar Goddess, thought to be part of the Eye of Ra (alongside Sekhmet and Bastet) and Carnelian is very much a solar crystal. She is connected with all of life's pleasures, is both the vibrant, sexual, and energetic Maiden as well as a nurturing Mother but also is linked to the Crone through Her association with death--is a surprising correspondence of Carnelian as well. According to Crystal Vaults (crystalvaults.com), Carnelian was used in Ancient Egypt to procure safe passage for the deceased and Hathor is known as the Goddess of the West, where She helped protect the dead.
Ancient History Encyclopedia has an article about Her which you can read here.
I also have a blog post about this beloved Goddess which can be found here.
Now that we've got what Carnelian helps with out of the way, let's talk about a couple of ways I utilize it in my life.
1. Meditation
This one is very short and simple. Sometimes all I need to do is hold it in my receptive hand
(for me that would be the left) and go into a meditative state. Once there, I tap into and attune with the energies of the stone. I focus on what I want or need (energy, creativity, etc.) and see that glowing within the stone, charging it with my intention. Then I draw that energy into my body and either allow it to expand until it fills every part of my body or send it to a specific area, like the Sacral Chakra. I sit with it until I feel the energy peak and can feel the shift. Once that happens, I thank the crystal and come out of my meditation.
As I go throughout my day and the energy begins fading, I find I can simply recall how I felt in that moment of meditation and it's like it revitalizes that energy once more!
In my practice, it's incredibly important to thank the ally spirit I am working with--whether that be a crystal, herb, oil, etc.. It's just good manners as they aren't there to be our slaves and do what we want. Instead this is a partnership.
2. Gem Elixirs
I was super hesitant to ever start working with gem elixirs since there are so many crystals you cannot directly place in water as they are toxic. So, to err on the side of caution, I always do the indirect method though I am starting to learn more about this and have started creating rose quartz elixirs through the direct method.
To create the elixir, you charge the crystal with your intention then fill a bowl or glass with water. If you're doing the direct method, which I only recommend if you are 100% positive the crystal is completely safe, you simply place the stone in the water where it'll charge the water with its energy. You can choose to place it in the sunlight or moonlight, depending on it's purpose. If the crystal is not safe, you're unsure or simply would rather do the indirect method, you will place another bowl inside the water-filled one, ensuring no water will come into this container and place your crystal in that. This keeps them from physically touching and any toxicity entering your water while still imbuing it with the energy you desire. You can also place the stones outside the water vessel or place the vessel inside a ring of crystals.
Once it's made, and it can be left to charge for however long you feel is necessary, I only add a few drops to my water glass. After having an unfortunate experience where I ended up too spacey after using a gem elixir, I prefer to tone it down a bit. I put the remaining water in the fridge to use throughout the day by adding it to my drinks. You could use the water to anoint yourself as well.
3. Crystal Grids
Another great way to utilize crystals is by creating a grid which isn't as complicated as it seems. You will need multiple crystals for this method though so be aware of that. You can couple the Carnelian with another crystal, like Citrine or Clear Quartz, depending on intentions or you can just use Carnelian.
When it comes to creating grids, I like to allow my intuition to guide me though I always have
a stone in the middle (the biggest of whatever stone I'm using) and I do keep it as symmetrical as possible. Reason being, not only is it more aesthetically pleasing but because I feel the energy is stabilized then. Silly, yes, but that's just how it feels. Once you have it laid out, you activate it. For the sake of not making this post absurdly long, and because she frankly had an amazing blog post about it, I highly recommend Hibiscus Moon's blog post and video on Crystal Grids which you can find here.
For Carnelian, I like to set up the grid in whatever room I'll be working from or at least a room that's sort of in the middle, if I'm cleaning multiple rooms or something. That's just a personal preference. You could create grids on your altar or in your sacred space and leave them at that. It's entirely up to you.
These are great ideas but what if you don't have Carnelian?
That means you miss out on this amazing crystal and its energy, right? NO! Not at all!
Pictures are a great way to tune into the energy of something and can hold almost as much power as the real thing! I mean...we use pictures for representations of our Deities, of sacred places, and to relive memories so why not allow them to assist us in tuning into the energy of a crystal?
To begin, find a picture that speaks to you and focus on it. Think about what you want it to help you with then once you can visualize it, close your eyes and meditate. See the crystal before you and reach out to take it in your hand. Feel the coolness of it. As you shift your focus to the crystal in your hand, you can already begin feeling the energies stir. This crystal is just as real as any other. Now, all you have to do is attune to its energies, which are very much real, and follow my meditation step above.
Once you are done, see yourself placing the crystal on a shelf and thank it. Then open your eyes and keep the picture so you can return to that crystal whenever you need it.
Working with crystals doesn't have to be complicated and are a beautiful way to bring more magick into your life. They can assist us in our everyday lives, enriching them in ways we could only imagine! However, please do not just see them as sparkly pretty things that ought to be purely for decorative purposes. Don't treat them lightly. That's such a disservice as they have the ability to impact us tremendously, if we allow them. They truly are powerful allies to have and if you're respectful, can truly make a difference in your practice.
I hope you enjoyed this post about Carnelian and ways in which I work with them.
Until Next Time,
Brightest of Blessings,
Britany Hill | The Heart-Centered Hexe
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