Smoky quartz – properties, virtues & benefits
Smoky quartz stone is a brown or gray semi-precious gem, often used in lithotherapy for its soothing and purifying properties. Discover its characteristics, virtues and how to use it in this article.
SMOKED QUARTZ CHARACTERISTICS
- Chakra: Root.
- Properties: Soothing, Purifying, Protective.
- Astrology: Saturn.
- Zodiac: Capricorn, Sagittarius.
- Elements: Earth, Air.
- Colors: Brown, Gray.
- Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale.
- Chemical Formula: SiO2 (silicon dioxide).
- Associated god: Dionysos.
SMOKED QUARTZ STONE – ITS HISTORY
Scientologists and preachers were strongly influenced by smoky quartz, particularly in the 19th century. They used it because, unlike clear rock crystal, smoky quartz stone prevented the uninitiated from accessing the secrets contained in their divination balls. In Scotland, at Braemar Castle, lies a huge smoky quartz crystal weighing over 23 kilos, popular for decorating Scottish kilts or as an ornament for jewelry such as brooches or dagger handles called “sgian dhu”. Larger crystals have been found in Brazil (over 300 kilos) and Switzerland, where a 600-kilo smoky quartz crystal was discovered in 1757. The Smithsonian Institution, a famous museum in Washington, has a 4500-carat faceted crystal weighing 900 grams. The name quartz comes from the ancient Greek krustallos, meaning ice, in reference to the belief that quartz was ice made by the gods. In the 12th century, smoky quartz was used in the form of lenses in China to make the first sunglasses.
SMOKED QUARTZ STONE – ITS ORIGIN AND COMPOSITION
Smoky quartz is a variety of quartz that ranges in color from very light, almost transparent brown to dark brown. It is known by various names such as Alençon diamond, German diamond, Colorado diamond or smoky topaz, although these unofficial designations have been banned by the Confédération Internationale de la Bijouterie, Joaillerie, Orfèvrerie des Diamants, Perles et Pierres. Smoky quartz is often used in jewelry to create pendants, but quartz can take on all sorts of hues such as red for carnelian, Pink for rose quartz, yellow for citrine, green for aventurine, purple for amethyst, brown for smoky quartz or pure and transparent for rock crystal.
There are two types of smoky quartz: dark-brown, almost black morion, also known as black quartz and found in France or Haute-Vienne, and cairngorm, named after the Scottish mountains where it was discovered, which is often smoky yellow-brown or gray-brown in color. Smoky quartz is a variety of microcrystalline quartz that owes its hue to the natural or induced irradiation of the aluminum salts it contains. Aluminum has a major influence on the properties of this material. Smoky quartz belongs to the oxide group, is transparent to translucent, rarely opaque and has a vitreous lustre. Its hardness on the Mohs scale is 7, and its density is constant (2.65). It has a conchoidal fracture and a trigonal crystal system. Its fluorescence is variable and its pleochroism is considered low.
Smoky quartz forms in a variety of geological settings, such as igneous and magmatic rocks like pegmatites, sedimentary rocks, alPine fissures and hydrothermal veins. It is abundant and found in many places, but most mined deposits are in Brazil, Madagascar, Scotland and Ukraine. Its many qualities are recognized worldwide.
SMOKED QUARTZ STONE – VERTIES AND PROPERTIES
SMOKED QUARTZ ON THE PSYCHOLOGICAL LEVEL
In lithotherapy, smoky quartz is considered the stone of responsibility and centering. It is thought to help soothe strong emotions that can get in the way of effective thinking, while improving clarity and focus. It can help overcome irrational fears, anxieties and internal contradictions that hold us captive, while improving self-confidence and the ability to open up to others. It is also said to help make good decisions, chase away negative thoughts and combat sadness.
Smoky quartz can help its wearer refocus energies on attainable goals, to avoid failure and disillusionment. For those with mood disorders, it can offer stability. It can also help to connect more with the body and listen to the signals it sends, such as hunger, thirst, instinct and the need for rest, in order to maintain optimal health and balance.
Smoky quartz is considered the interface, reconciler and link between light and material frequencies, making it the natural link between all opposing energies. It can help to understand the meaning of diversity and oppositions, in order to find harmony. It can also help you to let go and become tolerant, by no longer separating things so that they no longer clash. All in all, this stone is considered highly effective in helPing to accurately sense the connections between the subtle and material planes, as well as promoting balance and harmony.
Smoky quartz stone can help you accept the difficulties associated with the duality of human nature, find your positioning and make enlightened choices. It helps you understand that seeking the absolute is futile and helps you accept your shadow areas. It brings you the serenity you need to confront situations or relationships that are a little “troubled”, and offers you the opportunity to bring to light, and then defuse, the conflicts and power relations inherent in many life situations.
By religiously guarding your inner color palette, she helps you avoid abusing extremes, to make your life Picture harmonious. She teaches you that without shadow, light cannot be brought out, and conversely, that without light, shadow cannot show its depth and mystery, and that all you need to do is find a balance.
Smoky quartz puts you in touch with your inner self so you can make a rational, non-judgmental introspection. This will help you take stock of your inner self, without concessions or pretense. It also enables you to identify the negative that surrounds you and helps you to eliminate it by anchoring positive awareness within you.
This stone teaches that white and black are relative notions and can be perceived positively or negatively depending on your point of view. It’s full of resources and teaches you to merge your strengths with those of your environment, so you feel equipped to face the most fluid as well as the most difficult situations. In short, smoky quartz is considered a stone that can help you find balance and accept all the nuances of life.
SMOKED QUARTZ ON THE PHYSICAL LEVEL
Smoky quartz stone can help combat addictions by protecting the pulmonary air ducts and lungs, enabling the elimination of accumulated tar. It also strengthens connective tissue, muscles (especially the heart), kidneys, pancreas and genital organs, and has a positive effect on fertility. It is associated with the Root chakra or Mulhadara, the first chakra, because of its link with fertility and self-confidence. The lighter varieties are associated with the signs ScorPio, Libra and Capricorn, while the darker Morion is associated with Aries. The stone is often offered in the form of jewelry such as rings or pendants, which can be found in many jewelry boutiques, particularly in Paris. It’s also possible to visit the Galerie de Minéralogie et de Géologie at the Jardin des Plantes in Paris, one of the oldest and most prestigious mineral and geology collections in the world, housing around 770,000 specimens.
SMOKED QUARTZ STONE – CLEAN AND REFILL
Smoky quartz stone can absorb negative energies and become charged with energy over time. It is therefore important to cleanse and recharge it regularly to maintain its properties and effectiveness in lithotherapy. Here are some methods for cleansing and recharging your smoky quartz stone:
Cleaning:
- Place the stone under running water for a few minutes while visualizing the purification of negative energies.
- Purify with sage smoke, incense or Palo Santo.
- Place it on an amethyst geode for several hours to purify it energetically.
Loading:
- Expose the smoky quartz stone to the sun for a few hours, avoiding the hottest hours of the day.
- Recharge it with moonlight by placing it on your windowsill or outside on a full moon night.
- Recharge it on a cluster of rock crystal or amethyst for several hours to amplify its energy.
Choose the cleaning and reloading method that best suits your smoky quartz stone and your personal preferences. We recommend cleaning and recharging your stone regularly, according to your use and feelings.
WHERE DOES THE NAME SMOKED QUARTZ COME FROM?
The name “smoky quartz” refers to the brown or gray color of this variety of quartz, which resembles smoke or mist. Smoky quartz is formed by natural exposure to ionizing radiation in source rocks, which alters the color of quartz. This alteration can also be caused by the presence of impurities such as aluminum or hydrocarbons. The color can vary from light to dark brown, through to gray and black.
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WHICH CHAKRA DOES SMOKED QUARTZ ACT ON?
Smoky quartz acts primarily on the root chakra (or base chakra), located at the base of the sPine. This chakra is associated with stability, security, rootedness and connection to the Earth. Working with smoky quartz can help rebalance and strengthen the root chakra, promoting a sense of security, stability and self-confidence. Smoky quartz can also be used to harmonize other chakras by strengthening the connection to the Earth and clearing energy blockages.
WHICH ASTROLOGICAL SIGN IS ASSOCIATED WITH SMOKED QUARTZ?
The astrological sign associated with smoky quartz is Capricorn, but it is also associated with Sagittarius. Capricorn is an Earth sign, which is in harmony with the grounding and stabilizing properties of smoky quartz. Sagittarius, meanwhile, is a Fire sign, but is also associated with smoky quartz because of its desire for freedom and adventure, which smoky quartz can help support by strengthening the connection to the Earth.
SMOKED QUARTZ STONE SUMMARY
Smoky quartz stone is a variety of crystalline quartz that owes its smoky brown color to the presence of traces of radioactive minerals in its composition. This stone is considered a stone of protection and healing, known for its energizing and purifying properties.
It is often used in lithotherapy to help reduce anxiety, depression and stress, as well as to improve concentration and mental clarity. Smoky quartz stone is also associated with grounding and connection to the earth, making it a popular stone for meditation and sPiritual practice.
In addition to its energetic properties, smoky quartz stone is also used to create jewelry and decorative objects due to its beautiful smoky brown color. It can be cut and polished for use as a precious or semi-precious stone in jewelry, or left rough to add a natural touch to interior decoration.
