Volume I
Chronicle Elleven

Crystal Magic

A while back I decided that I would like to find out more about crystals and stones and how these items actually worked. I bought a bunch of books and began reading. I thought the literature was quite fascinating and also very discriptive. Stories of teacher crystals with secret knowledge hidden within and how the wizards of the past would store their craft within such crystals were simply amazing to me. I decided that I must learn this art.

It was very much to my dissapointment to discover upon reading and researching the properties of crystals, that no one really knew how to store knowledge in crystals. Sure, they talk about the existence of such crystals and some may even have the ability to pull one out and show it to you, but when you ask how does these things work; you get a blank stare or a gibberish answer that doesn't really answer your questions.

Well, I always say that a good magician is able to find his or her own answers, A good magician has within his or herself the ability to do and to know anything that he or she desires. I like to think that I am such a magician.

This chronicle will cover techniques and rituals of my own design that I have developed to enhance and to utilize crystals to their greatest potential. As ussual, I will approch the magic process from the perspective of High Magic and as ussual these magical processes can be adapted to other techniques and crafts.

The old way of buying a stone and placing it somewhere saying, "Do your stuff" is no longer the only way. We all now have the ability to place a stone somewhere and say, "Do my stuff" and this is a great step in recovering the lost art of crystal magic.

How Crystals Work

Before you can properly work with crystals, you must first understand how crystals work. Crystals are nothing more than a concentrated chemical element in nature. It is basically a rock and as such, crystals fall under the category of the element of earth.

In science, crystals are described as to filter all vibrations except for certain frequencies that are allowed to pass through depending on the type of crystal. According to this description, crystals work by transmitting specific frequencies and benefit from crystals are derrived from experiencing these vibrations.

Based on my experience working with crystals, I beleive that science has a long way to go before completely understanding how crystals work. I have seen crystals do many things contrary to the standard definition provided by science. My conclusion is that the scientific definition is flawed and as I always preach; who cares what science has to say. We are working with magic and magic requires a magical definition and such definitions do not and often does not apply to scientific logic.

All elements in nature produce their own specific energy and in most cases these elements are all jumbled together and mixed up, thus their energy that they project is intermixed with everything else. This creates a blended energy pattern that is quite chaotic and quite undistinguishable. It's kind of like trying to taste the vegetables in a vegetable soup. You may taste one or two, but all? It's just too blended.

Crystals on the other hand are all of the same element and they are so compact that they form a solid. To do this, the tiny molecules in a crystal must not only be pressed up against each other, but they must all be facing the same way and doing the same thing. This is why crystals come in diferent shapes instead of all being shaped like cubes.

The fact that a crystal is all of the same element is how it is able to produce and specific energy form. The larger the crystal is, the more of this same element there is and the more energy is produced.

The direction of energy flow is not controlled by the shape of the crystal as many would have you beleive, but actually by the nature of the crystal and how the tiny molecules are facing. The shape of the crystal is also controled by the nature of the crystal and how the tiny molecules are facing. Due to the fact that both the energy flow direction and the shape of the crystal is controled by the nature and facing of the crystals tiny molecules, this is why there is an association to the shape of the crystal and the direction of energy flow.

Even though there is an association between the shape and the energy flow, it is not a direct association and this must be noted. Magic will follow the direction of the energy flow, therefore it is very importact to know how the energy will flow through a particular crystal. It is very easy to to have the energy flow redirect your magic elsewhere than you had planned, thus screwing up what you had in mind.

How do you determine energy flow.

All crystals have two things in common. They all have a main point of entry and a main point of exit. Many crystals also have auxiliary entry and exit points, which can confuse the situation. The question is how do you determine the main entry and exit point. Keep in mind that energy will naturally enter through a face end exit through a point unless directed otherwise.

Main entry point

In order to determine the main entry point, you must first be able to pick up a crystal and read the energy contained within. This ability can be acquired through the Passive Acquisition Process as described in Chronicle One.

Once you are able to read the energy of a crystal, cleanse and drain the crystal. Choose a face on the crystal and charge the crystal only through this chosen face. Keep track of the amount of energy transmitted through the crystal.

I personally use a piece of selenite to charge my crystals in this manner and this allows me to time the amount of contact with the selenite.

Once the crystal has been charged, take a mental note of the energy contained within and start the entire process all over again for a diferent face. The face that will accept the most energy is the main point of entry.

Main point of Exit

To determine the main point of exit, first cleanse and charge the crystal as described in the previous section. Run your hand under running water, then dry it off (this too is a cleansing process). Run your hand in front of a point on the crystal and determine the amount of energy being projected out of this point. Repeat this process for each point on the crystal and compare which point projects the most amount of energy.

I personally, like to touch the point of the crystal to the palm of my hand. I feel that I get a better reading that way, but you will have to experiment for yourselves what works best for you.

Why such extensive measures?

Crystals can be compared to people. We can do all kinds of stuff to alter our appearance, from the close we wear to cosmetic surgery. However, the one thing we cannot change is our DNA code that determines how we appear to begin with. Crystals are the same way in the sense that they have this structure that determines the directional flow of energy and we can alter the appearance of the crystal creating new faces or removing old ones, but we cannot alter the internal structure of the crystal that dictates the flow of energy.

The shape of an untouched crystal can be moderately trusted, but an artificially altered crystal must be tested. Also keep in mind that magic can redirect the flow of energy through a crystal and that should also be kept in mind.

Warning! If you are working with a crystal that you beleive may have already been used and you would like to maintain whatever is in the crystal, the moment that you cleanse the crystal the contents will be gone. This would apply to old crystals bearing magical markings as well as teacher crystals with natural markings.

How Crystal Magic works

Once your have determined the direction of energy flow of a particular crystal, now it is time to use this crystal. The process and ritual I shall cover next is called Creating a Projection Crystal. Before we may embark on this next adventure we must first have a quick review.

In previous Chronicles we have discussed how rituals are used to produce a specific mindstate and it is this mindstate that produces the magic. We have also discussed how crystals also produce a specific mindstate (within us) and it is this "altered" mindstate that we then acquire that produces change in our lives. With all this in mind, if we were to have the ability to change the way that crystals affect us by changing the crystal's energy, we then have the ability to use crystal to produce results in our lives beyond what they naturally provide.

Sound impossible? Actually it isn't even that big a deal, in fact we already do such things with crystals and with other objects also, only that we do it without paying enough attention to what it is we are doing. First thing we must understand is that crystals should not be placed on the pedestal that we have placed them on. Yes they are powerful and magical, but they are no more magical than a pencil nor are they more powerful than a ice cube. This is not to say that crystals are mundane, but rather the opposite. All things are magical and we must never forget that.

Why must crystals be cleansed? Passive Acquisition time! My answer is as follows. It is because crystals change, thus proving that they can be changed. The simple fact that we charge and cleanse crystals prove that we have the ability to change crystals. Due to the fact that crystals change, we must always insure that the state of a crystal is one that we can work with and we do this by cleansing it. Also keep in mind that the physical is directly connected to the ethereal in other words that which we can accomplish physically can be accomplished magically and vice versa.

A crystal is nothing more than an object just like a peice of linen paper is nothing more than an object. Virgin linen paper for those of you who do not recognize it is the typical modern media used in producing talismanic magic. There is no reason we can not replace paper with stone to conduct a similar form of magic.

The key is that you must understand the crystal just as it is important to understand the paper in talismanic magic and crystal magic must be altered to accomodate the crystal. This is why it is important to understand how the crystal works and what kind of energy such a crystal naturally emits.

I have explained how a crystal works at the beginning of this chronicle and more specific information on crystal energy is readily available at many bookstores.

What is a Projection Crystal

A Projection Crystal is the use of a crystal to store a specific mindstate, ussually one associated to a ritual. In other words it is the ability to store a spell inside of a crystal to be used at a later time or a longer time. Crystals are perfect for such a task as they are very good at retaining a program as well as directing and projecting energy.

The Projection Crystal Ritual

For this spell I have chosen the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram, because it is a nice fundamental ritual and I feel everyone should have a crystal programed as such. The crystal I have chosen is a quartz crystal because of it's neutrality which should work well in ballancing the four directional energies and not favor one or the other. The shape of crystal I have chosen is a pyramid because of it's four faces and a base which matches the four specific energies and the base will serve as the source point in which the power will be provided. The power source I have chosen is selenite again for it's neutrality and it's steady provision of energy.

Before attempting this ritual all material must be cleansed and consecrated. Ooh! Too much work? Well, tough. To do magic well, you have to do it the right way. There is no short cuts in this matter.

Choose which faces will be north, south, east and west. Much like in talismanic magic place symbols and numbers associated to the four directions onto the faces of the crystal. As in talismanic magic, this is to produce a physical and magical link between the faces and the target energies. As I have explained in previous chronicles, deciding this means that is not enough. It must be thought through and the most important place the connection must be made is in the mind. You must "know" that they are connected and beleiving is not enough.

Place the items on your alter and the crystal should be placed off of the selenite for now but it must always face east "at all times". To face the crystal otherwise will form a vortex and an uncontrolled vortex is not a good thing.

One more thing I feel it is important to note. When drawing your sigils, all directional rotations are backwards. The normal rotation for drawing energy into this universe is clockwise and to send energy out of this universe is counter clockwise. Keep in mind normally when you do this, you are standing in the inside of the ritual circle. This makes a big diference in regards to perception. In working with crystals, you are not standing in the inside of the crystal. You are approaching the entire process from the outside, therefore what you see is clockwise looking from the outside is actually counter clockwise if you are looking at the very same sigil from the inside of the crystal. In simple terms, to setup the crystal to absorb energy, the rotation is counter clockwise and to setup the crystal to transmit energy, the rotation is clockwise. Based on the rotation of your sigils, this is how you program crystal on how to handle and manage energy.

As in talismanic magic, sigils may have been physically drawn onto the crystal in advance before the ritual has begun. Make sure you have a sigil for all four sides. On the bottom face of the crystal place a six rayed star which is used as a filter of all energies except for the Light Divine in it's purest form. The six rayed star will prevent other energy such as healling or prosperity energy to interfere and jumble up the energy. Healling and prosperity are good things, but if they are not what you are trying to do, they get in the way and mess everything up.

STEP ONE.

Perform the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram, the Banishing Ritual of the Hexagram and the Watchtowers. For those of you who are not High Magicians, the rituals here are ritual that are done as protection isolating the caster from both lower and higher energies. These a rituals typically used before conducting grey magick and although the crystal work here is of white magick, I recommend doing it anyway to protect oneself and to get into the habit especially if your crystal work will be less white than this specific ritual is. For those of you who are of other crafts, the rituals stated in this chapter may be replaced with those of your own craft (but they should be equivalent in nature).

STEP TWO.

I will explain this step in general terms and you will have to provide your own incantation. I have full confidence that you can handle the task. Stand at the eastern corner of your circle and address the energy of the east. Feel it's presence as it passes through your body. Once you have established this connection, ask or command (depending on which craft) the energy into the crystal. Place your right hand or left (depending on which craft) upon the eastern face of the crystal and focus the energy into the face and through the crystal until it reaches the base of the crystal. Do this for all four sides.

STEP THREE.

Properly Close the Ritual.

What you have just created is a projection crystal with no special commands. Give it a source of energy and it will cast the spell. Remove the source of energy and it will cease. As long as it is not cleansed it will continue to do this. For those of you who may not know this, running water and direct sunlight will cleanse a crystal so if it is not your intention to do this; keep your programed cystals out of such situations.

To test if the spell was a success, take your crystal and place it on the selenite. You should feel the energy coming from the crystal pass through you like a wave. It is quite an exhiliarating sensation.

By the way, I have found that flourescent light will charge a crystal without cleansing it. It is strange that an artificial source can be so effective in giving us what we require, but whenever the Universe hands us a gift; we should accept grasciously.

How to make a Achromation flash trigger

The previous ritual is a good and reliable ritual, but the amount of energy available and transmitted from the crystal is directly related to the availability of energy given by the source. Next, we will deal with a ritual that provides a little more power to the crystal. Actually, little is an incorrect word. The next ritual will provide a whole lot more power to the projection crystal and it will pack a whopper of a punch.

I call it the Achromation Flash Trigger and what it is designed to do is to prevent the crystal from transmitting the energy until you choose the appropriate time to release the energy. While the crystal is being prevented from releasing the energy, the crystal stores it and the energy builds. Depending on how long you choose to have the crystal store energy is the amount of punch the crystal will have when the energy is finally release.

In removing the Achromation Flash Trigger, the energy used to create the trigger is also removed, therefore a trigger may only be used once. The crystal, however, still remains as a projection crystal and should you choose to do so; a new Flash Trigger may be created.

For this ritual, you will require a crystal conductive to the spell that you are trying to achieve (love = rose quartz, healing = malachite, ect). All sides of this crystal must be in the shape of triangles. A side shaped in a form other than a triangle will cause the crystal to leak and the crystal will not be able to store energy.

STEP ONE

Draw an invocation hexagram at the base of the crystal and remember to draw it backwards (ie. counter clockwise). The starting point of the hexagram depends on the nature of the spell. Fire spells should start and finish from the point of fire. Water spells should be started and finished from the point of water. The same goes for Earth and Air spell, and all other spells should be started and finished from the point of spirit.

I could test if you're thinking on your feet with the next piece of info, but I won't for fear that you might screw your spell up and hurt yourself. If the rotational direction is reverse and sigils are to be drawn as mirror images, what else would be required to be drawn backwards? Answer, the elemental points on the hexagram. Oh, there is nothing like doing a fire spell from the aspect of earth to really not make it work. By the way, this paragraph is just me fooling around. Please do not take it personally and start throwing evil curses at me.

Final warning. Everything must be drawn backwards (except text) and I wont remind you from this point on.

Step Two

Place invocational pentagrams from the aspect of spirit on all sides that you choose as neutral sides and are not to be used. Actually, I kinda fibbed. If your crystal does have a bunch of non-triangular sides, you can still make the spell work by designating these sides as neutral faces, thus programming that no energy is to pass through these faces.

Step Three

The next step is to determine how you will release the energy contained within the crystal. The energy will be projected out through the points of the crystal and that is innevitable, The only question is which points. Depending on which an how many points you choose will determine how the energy will be projected.

By choosing a single point or only the main point of the crystal, the energy will shoot out like a bolt of lightning through this single point. By choosing all points, the energy when released will react as an expanding bubble evenly dispersing like a growing sphere. Depending on what your objective is determines how you set up the crystal. A general field like the expanding bubble effect could be used to spread energy through out your home. A projectile energy shot could be used to direct energy to a distant friend. This also applies to projection crystals in general.

Once you have determined your projection points, identify all of you sides that come into contact with your projection points. On each of these sides, pick an edge for each side that exists. Try to pick common edges to minimize the amount of edges.

Step Four.

Perform the Projection Crystal Creation Ritual.

Step Five

Next, we will create triangles of manefestastions and we will do this by charging the adges around the active faces. This is why the faces must be triangular.

The triangle is the symbol of manefestation. It is the two dimensional depiction of the vortex that manefests all into this universe. The triangle of manefestation bonds and strenthens (hense the triangle on the angel of the Temperence tarot card). It can be perceived as good and bad. The Temperence card is an example of the good nature of the triangle. An example of the bad nature of the triangle is the sign for Alcoholics Anonymous which is the triangle and circle which symbolizes the protection of circle to counter and protect from the manefestation and bondage of alcoholism. Also important to note is the breaking of the triangle of manefestation symbolizes the release from bondage.

For those of you who may have this question, our triangles are good triangles and are not meant to enslave crystal energy. The triangle is our friend and the crystal energy is also our friend.

To charge the edges of the faces, know that the symbolism and the connection to what we are doing and what is in nature is real and true. If you must, research on the triangle of manefestation to gain the faith. No, I didn't make the triangle thing up.

Before you begin creating your triangles, first determine a specific time or momment that your triangle are to terminate. Similar to the termination date given to talismans, the termination date given to triangles of manesfestation determine when the triangles are to be inneffective.

Use the finger that you draw sigils with and trace the edges of each triangle. The direction is evocational. Envision the energy charging the edges as green. Do this for every active face.

 STEP SIX

Your Projection Crystal with an Achromation Flash Trigger is now complete. Properly close your ritual.

Before you can activate your crystal first you must charge it. Place the crystal on a piece of selenite of a crystal cluster that is conductive to what you seek to acheive. Let it charge.

In order to activate the crystal, all that needs to be done is for the date that you programmed into your triangles of manefestation to expire. The crystal will then release the energy on it's own.

Why projection occurs through points only

This occurs because in order for the energy to be projected through the sides, programming must be in place preventing the enegry to exit though it's normal route which is through the points. Unfortunately any such programming is erased and overwritten when the manefestation triangles are put into place. When this occurs the energy will revert back to it's normal route once the triangles are broken

Conducting a self charge

Using a projection crystal to conduct a self charge is done when it is desirable to absorb a specific energy. Projection crystals provide an immediate boost of energy quicker than any other method of receiving energy.

To use a projection crystal in this manner, first you must create a projection crystal with manefestation triangles containing the energy. Be sure to omit the termination date or use the crystal for a self charge before the termination date expires.

Second you must charge the crystal. Once the crystal is properly charged, you may trigger the crystal by drawing down the Light Divine and touching one single point.

The objective is to cleanse a spot on these edges with the Light Divine. By doing so you have removed these edges and all triangles using these edges no longer have 3 sides and are no longer triangles. The objective is to break all manefestation triangles and thus release all chosen projection points at the same time.

Through this process you will have broken the triangles of manefestation, however because you did not specify it to cleanse the entire crystal; it will not alter the programing of the crystal. The energy will be released from the crystal like an energy bomb, so be prepared for the impact and do not fall down and hurt yourself.

Departing Thought

In the past, I have known group leaders who once voted out of their positions were so offended that they left the group or in some cases divided the group. Recently, I myself have just resigned from two groups and although my departure was not a result of me being offended or voted out; it was in my opinion the right thing to do. Many who know me are quite perplexed and do not understand how is it that I can just leave. The topic of this Chronicle is Image and Status.

What are these things called Image and Status? They are illusions and as such meaningless. Where does the power come from? The Title or the Fame of a person? No, the power comes from the person and the Title or Fame of the person has nothing to do with that. When you attribute your power to your position or reputation, you are attributing your power to an illusion and when the illusion dissipitates, so does your power. Find the power within you and you will always be able to depend on it being there when you need it.