Almost a year ago I came across this book called “Theophrastus on Stones”. At the time I was already certified as a Crystal Healer and I was making jewelleries from semi-precious stones (from my teen years) so it didn’t take long for the book to pay my attention.
The book I found is a pdf file that contains actual scans of the first original edition of “History of Stones” by Theophrastus as published in 1746. It was then published in vernacular to reach a larger audience. I was also amazed by the name of Theophrastus because he was a Greek mustic (my origin is Cypriot-Greek) and I had never heard of him before. So these things added to my curiosity about the book.
Theophrastus Original Book Cover as published in 1746
Who was Theophrastus?
Theophrastus was a Greek mystic that was borned in the Island of Lesvos in 371BC and he moved to Athens to become a student of Plato. After the death of Plato he followed Aristotle but later he went back to Lesvos to continue his self-development and to apply his knowledges. Aristotle moved to Lesvos to have the chance to collaborate with Theophrastus at his research on Nature Science. The spirit of Theophrastus was restless and fiery. He moved back to Athens where he finally became a tutor and his soul was rested there in 285BC. Theophrastus has left a precious inheritance for us today. From his work we can understand that his interests and knowledge varied widely (botany, ethics, grammar, logic,stones, physics, metaphysics, history, politics etc.)Some of his writings that are still extant:
- The Characters of Theophrastus
- Theophrastus on Stones
- Theophrastus on Plants
- Theophrastus on Sensation
- History of Physics
- History of Astronomy
- History of Geometry
- Metaphysics
- Theopharstus of Eresus on Winds and on Weather Signs
- Theophrastus on Ethics
- Sleep and Dreams
With more research on the Greeks mystics I came across Orpheus. Orpheus was a mystic of pure virtuous life. His Orphic teachings had great moral and intellectual effect on the Greeks at the time, but also in other nations. It is believed that he traveled in Egypt, Crete and in other countries where he was initiated into their mysteries. He became a famous musician, a great bard, a profet and a mystic. With his lyre he offered a great service to the Argonauts and to the gods. He founded the Orphic rites and sacraments that had directly and indirectly an impact on the flow of the Greek culture. Through his written hymns he provided information about the anthropomorphic and cosmogonic elements. Some abstract concepts through his hymns were referring to Nemesis, the Divine Justice, the Divine Law, and the Luck. Through his teaching Orpheus mentioned the healing properties of the stones.
Listed below is information about the spiritual and healing properties of some stones according to the two mystics :
“Of the substances formed in the ground, some are made of water and some of earth…In general, the qualities are produced according to the accuracy with which the stones are formed and solidified” ~Theophrastus on Stones
GR:”…η δε σμάραγδος και δυνάμεις τινάς έχει’ του τε γάρ ύδατος ώσπερ είπομεν εξομοιούται την χρόαν εαυτή, μετρία μεν ούσα έλάττονος, η δε μεγίστη παντός, η δε χειρίστη τον καθ’αυτήν μόνον.και προς τά όμματα αγαθή, διό και τά σφραγίδια φορουσιν έξ’αυτής ώστε βλέπειν’…”
EN:”the smaragdos(= emerald) also has certain powers. If you place a small stone into a small amount of water then the smaragdos makes the color its own. A larger size can affect the whole of the water…It is also good for the eyes, and for this reason people carry seals made of it, so as to see better.”
“The Gachala Emerald is one of the largest gem emeralds in the world, at 858 carats (171.6 g). This stone was found in 1967 at La Vega de San Juan mine in Gachalá, Colombia. It is housed at the National Museum of Natural History of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.”
In crystal healing I have learned that the emerald stone corresponds to the heart chakra (green stone-green color) so it is associated with the emotional balance of the being. It promotes friendship, love, loyalty, compassion and harmony. But, it is also a stone of great vision. It is associated with the eyes. It promotes intuition (our ability to see beyond the physical realm) and increases mental clarity.
GR:”Αύτη τε δη περιττή τη δυνάμει και το λυγγούριον’ και γαρ εκ τούτου γλύφεται τά σφραγίδια και έστι στερεωτάτη καθάπερ λίθος’ έλκει γαρ ώσπερ το ήλεκτρον…”
EN:”It is remarkable in its powers (meaning smaragdos), and so is the lyngourion(=tourmaline); for seals are cut from this too, and it is very hard, like real stone. It attracts the electron (= power of attraction)…”
Photo from Saphira Minerals
Tourmaline’s ability to become electrically charged, by heating or rubbing, its one end becomes positive and the other negative. This allows it to attract wood or metal. Through the smamanic rituals it is used as a protection shield because of its ability to remove and to block negative energy. It also provides protection agains radiation (cell phones, computers, electrical appliances) and electromagnetic pollution.
“Λίθος ὀψιανός. Οὗτος τὴν κλῆσιν ἔλαχεν ἀπὸ τοῦ ἐξ αὐτοῦ προβλέπειν καὶ προμαντεύεσθαι τοὺς παλαιοὺς τὰ μέλλοντα. Τρίβοντες γὰρ αὐτὸν καὶ
ἅμα τῇ εὐωδεστάτῃ σμύρνῃ μιγνύντες καὶ κατὰ πυρὸς ἐπιρραίνοντες πρὸς τὰς κινήσεις αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰ ἅλματα καθάπερ ἐκ τοῦ ἅλματος καὶ οἱ ἡπατοσκόποι τῶν μελλόντων κατεστοχάζοντο. Λέγουσι δὲ αὐτὸν καὶ νεύρων χαλεπὰ πάθη ἰᾶσθαι ἐπιπασσόμενον καὶ ἐπαλείφειν λεπίδας. ”
“The obsianos (=obsidian) stone has the ability of the intuition and prophecy providing to the old the new. When rubbing it, writers can be assisted to their writtings. It also said that if you sprinkle obsianos on an ill area aids to the nerves that are ill to heal faster.”
Obsidian is a crystal of no limitations. It has a strong energy and it is known to heal the mental disorders. It can release addiction and hardens the arteries. It assists in the circulation problems and to the joints pain. Beyond the physical body, it can heal the emotional body as well. It releases the emotional blockages and promotes unconditional love. Because obsidian works on the nervous system it can clear the mental state. When the mental state is clear the person feels rooted to earth, the intuition is striking and the level of concentration works in higher levels.
These are just a few of the many examples for the healing stones in their written work. If you are into the quest of new knowledge about the magnificance of crystals then these two mystics is a good lead as the information they give is not the standardized we get from websites or new age books.
In Love and Light,
Christiana
Recipe for Health and Well-being 
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