JULY – MONOCLINIC CRYSTALS
Welcome to a new month of Gem Wise! I am so excited to take this journey deeper into the world of gems and crystals with you. No matter if you’re brand new to gems or more experienced and knowledgeable, this class is a space for taking our learning deeper. If you’re new to Gem Wise, welcome! And if you were with me in June, I hope you enjoyed our class on tetragonal crystal structure.
To start with, you must remember that crystals grow naturally in the shape of polyhedra, which are solid shapes whose faces are polygons. Crystals are the closest physical representations of the Platonic Solids that we have. Though they are not perfectly formed as Plato’s ideals were, they offer us a good tangible example.
This month, we will be focusing on monoclinic crystal structure. You received gorgeous examples of this structure in your Gem Wise kits – petalite, aegirine, and a powerful red aventurine palm stone engraved with “discernment,” the theme of this month’s curriculum along with protection and intuition. As healers, energy workers, and humans striving for the Higher Truth, we must always hold our energetic boundaries and maintain a strong soul architecture. If we are not protecting ourselves well and there are gaps or fissures in our auric field, external energies have the ability to poison us and cloud our intuition. We can look to the energy of crystals to act as a fortress for us while we’re engaged in deep spiritual work and on a daily basis. Specific crystals vibrate at such a frequency that they provide shielding and heighten our intuition. How so? The magic lies in crystal structure.
Monoclinic Crystals
Chakra: Third Eye (predominantly)
The monoclinic crystal structure is most easily defined as having a parallelogram shape. Each of the seven crystal systems in existence consist of three vectors, and the vectors of monoclinic crystals are distinctly three different lengths. Additionally, this structure always bears two perpendicular vectors positioned at perfect 90 degree angles, while the third vector connects with the other two at any angle other than 90 degrees. Imagine a rectangle tipped over (like a rhombus). It can be tipped ever so slightly, or tipped to an extreme degree. That’s the distinction of the third vector angle. Derived from the Greek words mono (one) and klinein (to incline or bend), it is this bent or slanted appearance that is definitive of the monoclinic gemstone lattice. Internally, they have only a single mirror plane, or twofold axis, making one half a perfect reflection of the other.
These crystals often have prismatic faces, simply meaning that the face of the stone has beveled, geometric striations, almost like a grain. This common structure is the genetic makeup of several mineral formations including amphiboles, micas, clinopyroxenes, and some feldspars.
To be specific, some of the monoclinic crystals we know and love are: morganite, orthoclase, azurite, scolecite, howlite, staurolite, petalite, unakite, seraphinite, serpentine, epidote, hiddenite, gypsum/selenite, jade/nephrite, kunzite, lepidolite, malachite, moonstone, and Dalmatian Stone. Selenite is perhaps the most outwardly apparent embodiment of the monoclinic structure.
Because of the parallelogram’s appearance of tipping over, or tipping to one side, monoclinic gems can be energetically characterized by instability and flux. If you find yourself drawn to these stones, it may be because you have several ups and downs, imbalances, or inconsistencies in your life. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as it can point to adaptability and comfort with navigating change. In this sense, it’s very fitting that monoclinic gems resonate most profoundly with the Third Eye Chakra, making them crystals of expansion. With change and transition comes expansion and ascension – always followed, however, by periods of contraction… and there we see that flux indicated by the off-kilter rhombus appearance. These crystals stimulate action and clear the mind to make way for inner vision. In meditation, they help dissolve any thoughts surrounding trivial matters and open you to perceive matters of higher importance.
| Petalite | Aegirine | Red Aventurine |
| Structure: Monoclinic Chakra: Third Eye, Crown, Transpersonal Composition: Lithium sodium aluminum silicate Hardness: 6 to 6.5 Mineral Class: Silicates Astrological Sign: Gemini Element: Air Mined in: Australia, Brazil, Sweden, Namibia, and Afghanistan Colors: White, colorless, gray, pinkish, yellow |
Structure: Monoclinic Chakra: All Composition: Sodium iron silicate Hardness: 6 Mineral Class: Silicates Astrological Sign: Taurus Element: Earth, Fire Mined in: Greenland, Russia, Canada, South Africa, United States Colors: Black, greenish black, brownish black |
Structure: Hexagonal Chakra: Root, Sacral, Third Eye Composition: Silicon dioxide Hardness: 7 Mineral Class: Silicates Astrological Sign: Virgo Element: Earth, Fire Mined in: Brazil, India, Russia Colors: Red-brown |
Petalite
“I allow my higher awareness to open in the safety of the Light. I invite peace and calm self-acceptance to flow into my life, knowing my truth with crystal clarity. I release negativity, banish what is not of service to my Highest Good, and trust the prompting of my intuition. I am connected to the Air and its freedom in movement and space are mine.”
Petalite is my favorite protection stone. It is one of the sacred mystery stones, known as the Synergy 12, and of this elite group of stones petalite is the most powerful, most healing, and most successful for connecting you with the upper realms, where the angels and archangels reside. This stone is more powerful than black tourmaline for protection. It keeps your body out of lower vibratory non harmonic phases. This stone instantly brings feelings of peace, alignment, and calmness. I call petalite the ‘white velvet stone’ because soft and smooth flowing motion is exactly what I feel in its presence.
Petalite is a magnificent ally for the intuition. By transporting you into higher worlds and spiritual dimensions, the burdens of gravity are temporarily relieved. In these places of respite, your inner knowing has room to breathe and you reconnect with the voice of your heart and soul in new ways. You can trust petalite to energetically shield you, so your channel of truth is pure and clear, free of external and internal contaminants and debris.
Use petalite to enhance all psychic powers, including telepathy, clairsentience and clairaudience. Associated with the Air element, Petalite opens you to connections of all kinds – visions, sounds, feelings, sensations – within and without of you. When the outside world and your own mind crescendo into an overwhelming racket, reach for petalite to calm you down. From a state of serenity and peace, you will be open to access and utilize your natural psychic gifts without the confusion, anxiety and loss of grounding that often occur.
Placing petalite upon your Third Eye during meditation will quiet your thoughts and elevate you to the silent and tranquil spaces of Spirit and Light. Its balancing energy eases scattered mental activity and increases awareness in altered states of consciousness and in the daily activities of life. Petalite is a powerful integrator of heaven and earth, activating your higher mind and helping you tangibly harness divine awareness through earthly manifestation – becoming a grounded living continuum between spirit and matter.
Aegirine
“I summon my heart to inform my mind, and my actions to follow in perfect alignment. I allow Divine protection to surround me, shielding me from all negative energies, entities and elementals. I reclaim my power and all that is mine by birthright. My spirit is liberated to flow and flame, emanating from my truest Center. I am connected to Earth and Fire.”
Aegirine, also known as acmite, is known as the most noble crystal. It stands for integrity and encourages you to follow your heart with confidence. The black blades of aegirine rise like the legendary Sword in the Stone, representing your truth, waiting for you to seize and own it! Aegirine helps you reclaim your own power, with the courage to align your heart, mind and actions, even in the most difficult situations.
The natural and earthy energy of aegirine offers strong protective energy, shielding the aura and physical body. It is especially effective in activating and maintaining protection from energetic disease and imbalance due to toxic environments and continual exposure to the electromagnetic fields of computers and electronics. Aegirine resonates with all chakras and is adept in clearing any blocked or negative energies from them. It also activates the flow of positive energy, and boosts the body’s ability to self-heal. This crystal will assist you in breaking dependencies on toxic substances and in recovery from their harsh effects.
Use aegirine to align with your truest conviction. It will increase your awareness of attachments to your own negative mental loops and the frustrating futility that comes from this misalignment. With the discriminating assistance of aegirine, you can more easefully filter out what is false and deceptive, following your heart with confidence.
Aegirine will help you overcome self-consciousness, guilt, self-pity and unnecessary shame that hold you back from shining your light in the world, in the perfect way only you were made to shine. This amazing Stone of Self intimately connects with the virtue in all things, especially in you. It exists, at least in part, to be your champion in standing and living in pure, incorruptible righteousness.
Red Aventurine
“I take action on my Soul Path. With strength, vitality, and confidence, my desire for action will not wane. Rather, it will burn bright. Energy of innovation now crosses into the physical plane. I am connected to Earth and Fire.”
You want big action in your life? Red aventurine is your stone. This is an energetic dose of vitality, mental focus, creativity, and sexuality. It infuses the spirit with determination and desire, enabling you to overcome any challenges and persevere, as you surrender to the flow of Prana. From boosting libido to instilling renewed confidence, this gem will get you going when your ignition fails to start. It serves especially well as an ally to all types of creatives – writers, painters, musicians, and the like, will all discover the road to inspiration when working with red aventurine.
In addition to being your gemstone muse, this is a stone of solidifying goals and activating your inner vision. Instead of providing a fiery boost that leaves you running out of steam, red aventurine keeps you going on an even keel, focused and consistent so you can see your intentions through to the end. Along this often long road to manifestation, red aventurine also provides the discernment to know where your energy is well spent. Thus, working with this stone, you will know which ideas are divinely inspired and worth pursuing, and which are better released and repurposed. Work with this stone to transform the energy behind your ideas and dreams into tangible, actionable progress on your Soul Path.
Aventurine has a truth seeking spirit, instinctually uniting with the truth seeker in you. Red aventurine inspires a zest for life, physically enhancing blood flow, nerves and perceptive abilities. It is affiliated with the astrological sign Virgo and shares the attributes of critical analysis, discrimination, process improvement and true service. By helping you mentally pursue your goals in a pragmatic manner, this gemstone brings your ideas and aspirations down from the clouds and onto the earth, where you can really work with them, in service of humanity.
