Also known as Schorl, black tourmaline is made up of Sodium Iron Aluminum Borate Silicate.  It is black in color and the black variety of tourmaline accounts for 95% of all tourmalines in nature. The mineral Schorl is named after the village in Saxony Germany known as Zschorlau. The name tourmaline derives from the language Sinhalese and refers to red-brownish stones called carnelian.  Black varieties of tourmaline can be found all over the world but is mostly mined in Brazil and many parts of Africa.

History

Black Tourmaline has been used in many cultures mostly for the protective properties of the stone.  The ancient Egyptians believed that the mineral has the ability to stave off negative energies and create stability and equilibrium.  Native American tribes wore the stones to connect to earth and protect the wearer from danger.  In the 19th Century, it was used to treat a variety of ailments including acne, eczema and arthritis.  The ability to heal pain was so popular that the Black Tourmaline was also used by doctors.  

Metaphysical Properties

• Dispels Negative Energies

• Increase Physical Vitality

• Grounds Energy

• Disperses Tension and Stress

• Clears Negative Thoughts

• Promotes Calm, Laid-Back Attitude

• Heightens Clear Rational Behaviors

• Encourages Positive Attitude

• Stimulates Altruism

• Sharpens Mental Focus

• Increases Alertness 

Physical Healing

• Defends Against Debilitating Disease

• Strengthens the Immune System

• Treats Dyslexia and Arthritis

• Provide Pain Relief

• Realigns the Spinal Column

• Supports Weight Loss and Reduces Bloating

• Worn Around the Neck, It Will Protect Against Electronics, Electromagnetic Smog and Radiation

• Cleanses the Body from Radiation and Pollutants

• Improves Blood Circulation 

Chakras

• Root

Frequently called "The Master Healer," quartz is one of the most powerful crystals known for its ability to amplify energy. The name "quartz" derives from the German word "Quarz." This mineral is the second most abundant in Earth's crust, just behind feldspar, and it can be found and produced worldwide. While China, Japan, and Russia are the primary producers, quartz's various colors and forms each possess distinct energies and special healing properties.

History

Quartz has played a significant role in many ancient cultures and civilizations. The earliest talismans of the stone date back to 75,000 B.C. In Australian Aboriginal Mythology, quartz was known as the mystical substance "maban," believed to grant shamans their magical powers. The Ancient Greeks and Romans thought quartz crystals, called "Krystallos," were pieces of frozen ice that would not melt. Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder observed quartz's ability to reveal prisms of light. Across Europe and the Middle East, quartz was commonly used for jewelry and hardstone carvings. Today, it remains integral to spiritual healing and cultural rituals and is widely used in art, glassmaking, countertops, frequency vibration in crystal oscillators, lasers, microscopes, scientific instruments, and various electronic devices.

Metaphysical Properties

• High Vibration Stone: Powerful and protective.

• Supports Overall Well-Being: Brings the body into balance and harmonizes the environment.

• Energy Regulation: Absorbs, stores, releases, unblocks, and regulates energy. Holding quartz doubles your bio-magnetic field.

• Relationships: Offers harmony in romantic relationships.

• Spiritual Upliftment: Elevates spiritual energy to its highest levels and enhances psychic abilities. It attunes individuals to their spiritual purpose and amplifies communication with spirit guides.

• Self-Discovery: Facilitates self-knowledge, helping to overcome personal limitations, providing goal focus, and reviving dormant abilities. It also encourages clarity, improves perception and problem-solving, and liberates buried memories.

• Emotional Relief: Magnifies meditation focus, aiding in the relief of emotional distress. Harmonizes all chakras and energy pathways.

Physical Healing

• Nervous System: Stimulates and revitalizes the nervous system.

• Organ Health: Cleanses and enhances organ function.

• Chronic Conditions: Effective in combating chronic fatigue, arthritis, bone injuries, depression, diabetes, fibromyalgia, and intestinal issues. Revitalizes areas of the body that have lost feeling or become paralyzed.

• Pain Relief: Reduces fever, alleviates pain, swelling, and nausea.

• Master Healer: Used to treat a wide range of conditions.

Best Pairings

• Amethyst: Enhances spiritual awareness and supports sobriety.

• Citrine: Magnifies prosperity and success, encourages joy and positivity.

• Rose Quartz: Promotes love, compassion, and emotional healing.

• Smoky Quartz: Grounds energy, absorbs negative energy, and releases tension.

• Black Tourmaline: Provides protection and wards off negativity.

Chakras

• Crown Chakra: Enhances spiritual connection and enlightenment.

Proper Care

To maintain the vibrancy and efficacy of your quartz, follow these care tips:

• Cleaning: Clean your quartz regularly to remove accumulated energies. You can rinse it under lukewarm water, or use a soft cloth and mild soap. Be sure to avoid harsh chemicals or abrasive materials that can damage the surface.

• Charging: Re-energize your quartz by placing it in direct sunlight or moonlight for a few hours. This helps to recharge its natural energies.

• Storing: Store your quartz in a soft pouch or a dedicated compartment to prevent scratches and damage. Avoid placing it near electronics for extended periods as the quartz's energy may interfere with electronic devices.

• Programming: Set your intentions by holding the quartz and focusing on your desired outcomes. This helps to align the crystal's energy with your personal goals.

• Regular Use: Incorporate quartz into your daily routine by carrying it with you, wearing it as jewelry, or placing it in your living space to benefit from its healing properties.

 Rutilated quartz is a variety of quartz that contains acicular, or needle-like, forms of rutile, which is a composition of Titanium oxide.  The rutile can look golden but sometimes also looks silver, copper red or deep black.  Rutile is a very soft material and therefore generally cannot survive by itself.  It remains intact due to the protection is receives from the much harder quartz.  The rutilated variety of quartz can be found anywhere that quartz is produced, meaning it is located in all places on earth.  The name Rutile comes from the Latin word, “rutilus” which translates to “glowing red”.  This can be attributed to its golden glow observed in most Rutilated quartz minerals.  

History

Originally dubbed, “Venus’ Hair Stone”, Rutilated quartz is most commonly associated with the goddess of love.  The long thin needles in Rutilated Quartz were thought to be single strands of Venus’s hair.  The Gold Rutilated Quartz was opined to be sunshine encapsulated within the stone.  The Pink Rutilated Quartz rutile was believed to be the arrows of Cupid, Venus’ son. 

The stone rutile was first written about by Abraham Gottlob Werner, when the German geologist gave the stone its name.  The quartz miners would commonly discard the rutilated variety of the stone due to the belief that they were less pure and valuable to the non-rutilated stones.  In the 1940s, the gemstone came to popularity after a group of miners determined the stone had a beauty that was beyond the practical applications of the non-rutilated stones.  From that point on, the rutilated quartz has gained popularity and value.    

Metaphysical Properties

• Expands Awareness

• Boosts Positive and Mental Energy

• Enhances Physic Ability and Intuition

• Protects Your Mind

• Balances Energy to Promote Relaxion

• Relieves Stresses in Difficult Situations

• Reveals Hidden Sources of Mental Struggle

• Improves Mental Clarity Towards Friendships and Romance

• Assists in Avoiding Risky or Problematic Situations

• Helps Ward Off Nightmares

• Alleviates Sadness and Isolation

• Improves Cognitive Abilities in Scholastics

Physical Healing

• Improves Digestions

• Treats Phantom Pains After Amputations

• Reduces the Power of PTSD

• Absorbs Nutrients More Effectively

• Hastens Recovery of All Ailments

• Assists With Tissue Repair

• Relieves Stress, Anxiety, Depression and Any Forms of Mental Suffering 

Chakras

• All Chakras

 Tourmaline, often called “The Receptive Stone” is an absolutely brilliant crystal.  Its charm comes from its wide range of radiant colors and healing properties, and it can be found in various locations on the globe.  Legend states tourmaline was created from the mesmerizing energies of the rainbow, offering joy, generosity, and illumination.  Its colors vary from black, brown, green, pink, red, yellow, blue, watermelon and blue green.  Its color variation spans more than almost any other gemstone.  Tourmaline can be shiny, opaque, or transparent with a vitreous luster and is extremely durable with a 7-7.5 rating on the Mohs scale.  This crystal is a master in its mental healing capacity.  It allows us to recognize when it is safe to love and tells us when it is time to release past sorrows and trauma.  When dealing with others, its energies allow us to act with compassion, wisdom, flexibility, and mindfulness.  Tourmaline is an excellent stone for the broken hearted; it cleanses, purifies, and transforms any negative thoughts and emotions into positive ones.  In times of turmoil, tourmaline will help to point out the culprit, find solutions to issues, and enlighten the path to take moving forward.  While different colors of tourmaline have their own unique set of healing properties, in addition to those above, tourmaline works with all the chakras from the root to the crown.  Tourmaline balances the meridians of the body and clears the aura.  It is a wonderful stone for inner healing, encouraging universal love at every turn as it dispels disruptive feelings and emotions.  If you are looking to truly understand yourself and others, live with compassion and empathy, tourmaline is a crystal you want to have by your side. 

History

Known for centuries as “schorl” the name tourmaline didn’t come about until 1703.  Early history of the crystal shows the name “schorl” was in use early before the name tourmaline.  The namesake “schorl” was given by the town in Germany, Zschorlau.  This village had a nearby mine where black tourmaline was found.  The name tourmaline originates from the Sinhalese (Sri Lanka) words “tura mali” meaning “unknown gemstone of mixed colors”.  In 1703, a specimen of the gem arrived in Amsterdam from Sri Lanka and at that point, it was realized to be a different stone.  Tourmaline is a crystalline silicate mineral group in which boron is compounded with a variety of other minerals including aluminum, iron, magnesium, sodium, lithium, or potassium.  Like feldspar, garnet and mica, tourmaline is not just one mineral, rather it is a group of closely related minerals.  It is also documented that green tourmaline was discovered in the 1500’s in Brazil by a Spanish conquistador, however, he confused it with the emerald at the time.  Tourmalines were also discovered by Dutch traders in the late 1600’s or early 1700’s, with the first discovery in the United States in 1822 in the state of Maine by Elijah Hamlin and Ezekial Holmes.  California’s first deposits were found in the late 1800’s.  Much of this tourmaline was shipped to China to be carved.  Soon after this, many Brazilian deposits of the crystal were discovered, and Brazil continues to be a top producer of some of the finest tourmalines.  Brazil still holds the record for the world’s largest Paraiba tourmaline weighing 191.87 carats.  American tourmaline gemstones spiked in popularity when minerologist George Kunz sold green tourmaline from Maine to Tiffany and Co. in 1876.  Tourmaline is highly coveted for jewelry making due to the gem’s durability, range of colors, and beauty.  The most common color is black while the bright blue green varieties with traces of copper (Paraiba), watermelon, chrome, and pink being the rarest varieties.  There is a good chance that tourmaline has a much richer history than documented because it is likely that the gem was confused with other gemstone varieties making historical references hard to come by.  Russian crown jewels from the 17th century contained various tourmalines.  William Shakespeare had a wonderful collection of tourmaline jewelry as he believed tourmaline aided him in overcoming writer’s block.  Writers of the Renaissance used tourmaline in their talismans for this same reason.  The last Empress of China, Dowager Tz’u-hsi, coveted pink tourmaline.  At her death, her head was laid on a pillow carved of pink tourmaline.

Tourmaline also possesses pyroelectric and piezoelectric capabilities.  The piezoelectric effect is the generation of an electric voltage upon application of mechanical stress, while pyroelectricity relates to the generation of electrical charge upon heating or rubbing.  Due to this unique property, it is used in pressure devices, in sonar apparatus, and in other gauges that detect and measure pressures.  Its demand increased during World War II as an increase of pressure gauges was needed for submarine sonar and other needed equipment that was instrumental.  Tourmaline crystals can often exhibit polarity, which means it has a different charge at either end of the crystal that creates natural magnetism. 

Metaphysical Properties  

·         Grounds Spiritual Energy

·         Clears and Balances the Chakras

·         Creates a Protective Shield Around the Body

·         Protects During Rituals and Spiritual Practices

·         Good for Use When Scrying

·         Clears the Aura

·         Attracts Inspiration, Compassion, Tolerance, and Prosperity

·         Encourages Universal and Self-Love

·         Disperses Emotional Pain and Trauma

·         Balances the Hemispheres of the Brain

·         Illuminates Solutions to a Problem

·         Balances the Body’s Meridians

·         Acts as a Natural Insecticide for Plants and Gardens

·         Encourages Growth of Crops

·         Aids in Understanding of the Self and Others

·         Promotes Self-Confidence

·         Diminishes Fear

·         Transmutes Negative Thought Patterns to Positive Ones

·         Enhances Energy Flow

·         Dissolves Disruptive Feelings

·         Inspires Creativity

Physical Healing

·         Treats Paranoia

·         Helps Overcome Dyslexia

·         Releases Tension

·         Balances Male and Female Energies

·         Strengthens Stamina and Energizes

·         Heals the Physical Heart

·         Detoxifies the Body

·         Aids the Immune System and Nervous System

·         Strengthens Bones and Teeth

·         Relieves Heartburn, Headaches, and Muscle Pain

In addition to the properties listed above, the following colors possess these additional attributes:

Blue Tourmaline 

·         Encourages Spiritual Freedom and Self-Expression

·         Aids in Psychic Awareness

·         Promotes Visions

·         Encourages Fidelity and Ethical Behaviors

·         Brings Blocked Feelings to the Surface to be Healed and Dissipated

·         Assists in Developing an Inner-Sense of Responsibility

·         Promotes Living in Harmony with the Environment

·         Creates Drive to Achieve Goals and Aspirations

·         Helpful for Insomnia

Clear Tourmaline 

·         Counters Anger and Resentment

·         Relieves Stressful Thoughts

·         Calms and Balances the Mind

·         Aids in Connection to the Inner-Self

·         Clears Insecurities

Brown Tourmaline 

·         Grounding

·         Aligns the Etheric Body

·         Encourages Community Spirit

·         Comforts in Large Groups of People

·         Heals Dysfunctional Family Relationships

·         Strengthens Empathy 

Green Tourmaline 

·         Helpful for Chronic Fatigue

·         Aids in Visualization

·         Promotes Tenderness

·         Creates Openness and Patience

·         Attracts Prosperity and Abundance

·         Overcomes Problems with Father Figures

·         Quiets the Mind

Purple Tourmaline 

·         Heals the Heart

·         Produces Loving Consciousness

·         Connects Root and Heart Chakras

·         Increases Devotion

·         Promotes Intuition and Stimulates the Pineal Gland

·         Strips Away Illusions

·         Useful for Past-Life Healing

·         Reduces Depression and Releases Obsessive Thoughts

Red Tourmaline 

·         Promotes Understanding of Love

·         Increases Sociability and Extroversion

·         Instills Compassion and Devotion

·         Encourages Tactfulness and Flexibility

·         Balances Extreme Aggression

·         Increases Stamina and Endurance

·         Provides Joy, Openness, and Emotional Stability

·         Fosters Inner Strength and Wisdom

·         Unites Heart and Body in Love and Passion

Pink Tourmaline 

·         Aphrodisiac that Attracts Love

·         Inspires Trust in Love

·         Assists in Gaining Self-Love

·         Disperses Emotional Pain and Old Destructive Feelings

·         Heals Inner-Chaos

·         Cleanses and Synthesizes Love with Spirituality

·         Promotes Humanitarianism

·         Fosters Listening and Understanding

·         Overcomes Anxiety

·         Attracts Absolute Love and Friendship

Yellow Tourmaline 

·         Enhances Personal Power

·         Opens up Spiritual Pathways

·         Benefits Intellectual Pursuits and Business Affairs 

For Black Tourmaline and Watermelon Tourmaline:  Full Detailed Descriptions are under “B” and “W” on the A-Z Page

Chakras

·         Third Eye (Blue)

·         Throat (Blue)

·         Sacral (Brown)

·         Root (Brown)

·         Heart (Pink, Purple, Green, Heart)

·         Solar Plexus (Yellow)

·         Crown (Clear) 

Proper Care 

To cleanse Tourmaline, use warm water, mild soap, and a soft cloth to dry.  Tourmaline is an excellent stone for daily wear due to it being one of the more durable stones.  To charge, place in the full moonlight for a few hours, or place on or next to Selenite for spiritual cleansing and recharging.  You may also pair with clear quartz to give it an extra boost.  Avoid leaving colored tourmalines in the sunlight for prolonged periods of time, as this could fade the color.  However, tourmalines are durable, and are a great choice for daily wear.