Absent healing See Distant healing.The process of sending healing energy, good thoughts or prayers to a person who is not present—perhaps someone in another country. Also known as remote healing.
Aggregate A mixture of minerals combined in a geological process; resembles a solid rock.
Akashic records A library of spiritual information that exists on another plane.
Alluvial Made from sediment in riverbeds which produces “river-tumbled” crystals.
Asterism An optical effect that results in a star-like appearance.
Astral travel The ability to send a part of the astral/spirit body to travel outside of the physical body (while remaining connected to the physical body).
Aura The subtle energy field (qv) around the body.
Blade A crystal that resembles a flat knife blade.
Botryoidal Describes bulbous minerals that resemble a bunch of grapes.
Chakra The Sanskrit word for “wheel.” Chakras are the energy centers of the body, appearing as wheels to people who see energy.
Channeling The communication of messages or information from the spirit world via a medium.
Chatoyancy An optical effect, also known as “cat’s eye,” found in some polished crystals. Chatoyant crystals bring good luck, happiness, and serenity. They raise intuition and awareness, provide protection, and can help with disorders of the eyes, night vision, and headaches. The astrological associations of these crystals are Capricorn, Taurus, and Aries.
Chi In Chinese medicine and philosophy, chi is the energy or life force of the universe, believed to flow around the body and to be present in all living things. Other cultures call chi by different names, such as prana in India.
Clairaudience The ability to hear psychic information.
Clairsentience The ability to feel psychic energies.
Clairvoyance The ability to see psychic information.
Crust The top or outer layer. Crystals occurring as crusts are growing on the surface of a rock or mineral. See also Druse.
Crystal system A classification of crystals according to their atomic structure, describing them in terms of their axes (imaginary straight lines through the center, around which they are symmetrically arranged). The systems are hexagonal, isometric, monoclinic, orthorhombic, tetragonal, and triclinic (qqv).
Cubic Describes a cube-shaped crystal, with six square faces. The three axes are the same length and are at right angles to one another.
Dendrite A mineral that crystallizes in the shape of a tree or branch or grows through another crystal or rock, creating the impression of a tree or branches.
Dis-ease A state of unsoundness on any level (physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual), which may weaken the body’s natural defense systems and increase the risk of illness or disease. It relates to underlying causes and not a specific illness or disease.
Distant healing The process of sending healing energy, good thoughts, or prayers to a person who is not present—perhaps someone in another country. Also known as absent healing or remote healing.
Dodecahedral Describes a crystal having 12 pentagonal (five-sided) faces meeting in threes at 20 vertexes.
Druse A surface crust of small crystals on a rock of the same or a different mineral.
Energy A supply or source of power: electrical, nuclear, mechanical, or subtle (qv), such as chi (qv).
Etheric Anything, on any level, linked to or by subtle energy (qv).
Feldspar A group of silicate minerals.
Geode A hollow rock with crystals growing in the cavity.
Hexagonal Describes a crystal system having four axes, of which the three horizontal axes are equal in length and cross at 120° angles, and the vertical axis is a different length and at right angles to the others. A hexagonal crystal has eight faces.
Inclusion A mineral found within the structure of a different mineral.
Iridescence Colors appearing inside a crystal owing to either diffraction or refraction of light within the crystalline structure.
Isometric: Describes a crystal system having three axes that are all equal in length and at right angles to one another.
Mass Matter that has no definable crystalline structure.
Meridian An energy pathway through the body. Meridians carry chi in the same way that veins and arteries carry blood.
Monoclinic Describes a crystal system having three unequal axes, only two of which are at right angles.
Nodule A form of a mineral that is massive (see Mass) with a rounded outer surface.
Octahedral Describes a crystal having eight faces that are all equilateral triangles; resembles two four-sided pyramids joined at the bases.
Orthorhombic Describes a crystal system having three axes of unequal lengths that cross at right angles.
Piezoelectric effect The electric current produced by some crystals when they are subjected to mechanical pressure.
Piezoelectricity The transducer effect that results from applying pressure to a crystal, allowing the transmutation of this mechanical energy into electrical energy. It creates a physical vibration which, in quartz crystal, resonates at a regular and constant frequency. This effect is very stable. So, if you have a quartz watch—and the quartz crystal is pure and cut at the correct angle to its axis—it will be accurate.
Plagioclase A variety of feldspar.
Plate A crystal that has grown flattened and often thin.
Prismatic Describes a crystal having faces that are similar in size and shape and that run parallel to an axis; the ends are rectilinear and similar in size and shape. For example, a triangular prismatic crystal has two triangular ends joined by three rectangular faces, while a hexagonal prismatic crystal has two hexagonal ends connected by six rectangular faces.
Pyroelectric effect The production of electric charges on opposite faces of some crystals caused by a change in temperature.
Pyroelectricity The movement of electrons that results in a migration of positive and negative charges to opposite ends of a crystal. Caused by temperature changes. This is clearly seen in many crystals, especially tourmaline and quartz crystals. A weak effect can be observed in any crystal that has a polar axis.
Plagioclase A series of feldspars, including labradorite and sunstone.
Pseudomorph A mineral that replaces another within the original’s crystal structure. As a result, the new mineral has the external shape of the departed one.
Psychic abilities These include intuition or gut feelings, channeling (qv), clairaudience (qv), clairsentience (qv), clairvoyance (qv), sensing energies and auras (qv), seeing auras, interpreting auras, telepathy, extrasensory perception, and increased insight into divination and tarot card readings.
Pyramidal Describes a crystal in which the base is a polygon (i.e. with at least three straight sides) and the other faces are triangles that meet at a point.
Pyroelectric effect The production of electric charges on opposite faces of some crystals caused by a change in temperature.
Pyroelectricity The movement of electrons that results in a migration of positive and negative charges to opposite ends of a crystal. Caused by temperature changes, it is clearly seen in many crystals, especially tourmaline and quartz crystals. A weak effect can be observed in any crystal that has a polar axis.
Record keeper Describes a crystal with raised triangles on the face of the termination. Record keeper crystals help you access ancient wisdom and the akashic records (qv).
Reiki A form of hands-on healing that originated in Japan and now has millions of practitioners worldwide.
Remote healing See Distant healing.
Remote viewing The ability to see places and events at a distance. See also Astral travel.
Rhombohedral Describes crystals having six faces, each of them a rhombus (which has four equal sides, with opposite sides parallel, and no right angles).
A rhombohedron resembles a cube that is skewed to one side.
Scalenohedral Describes crystals having 12 faces, each of them a scalene triangle (which has three unequal sides).
Shamanic healing An umbrella term covering a multitude of ancient forms of healing, all of which are linked to nature. One of the oldest forms of traditional healing.
Spirit guides The beings or energies of departed souls who impart information, knowledge, and wisdom to help you on your path.
Striated Describes crystals having parallel grooves or markings along their length.
Subtle energy Energy that is outside of the known electromagnetic spectrum and therefore not easily detected.
Tabular Describes crystals that are broad and flat.
Tektite Small glassy rock formed from meteorite impact.
Tetragonal Describes a crystal system having three axes, of which only the two horizontal ones are equal, and all three axes are at right angles. It resembles a cube that has been stretched vertically.
Tetrahedral Describes crystals having four triangular faces.
Totem animals Animal spirits or characteristics that help to guide you on your path in life.
Trapezohedral Describes crystals having faces that each have four non-parallel sides (a shape known as a trapezium in the US and a trapezoid in the UK).
Triclinic Describes a crystal system having three axes, none of them equal in length or at right angles.