Selenite – “as Above, so Below”

Fluorescent Hourglass Phantom revealed in Selenite

“‘That which is above is the same as that which is below”, that the microcosm of life and the earth is a reflection of the macrocosm of God and the heavens.  This phrase comes from the beginning of “The Emerald Tablet“, that almost mythical work of Hermes Trismegistus.

The significance of this phrase is that it is believed to hold the key to all mysteries. For well over a thousand years, this was the basis of astrology, alchemy, chemistry, numerology, geometry and more, the concept of the “dynamic interconnectedness “ of all things. New Discoveries in both Astronomy and Molecular science are just now revealing the truth and reality of this axiom.

Selenite is one of the “crystalline” forms of gypsum.  Satin spar, desert rose, and gypsum flower are the other 3 crystal formations. Selenite has a hardness of only 2 on the Moh’s hardness scale, so it is soft and easy to damage or scratch.  It can be clear to satin in appearance and crystaline to fibrous in structure.

Since ancient times, Selenite has always been associated with the light of heaven and moonlight. Selenite traces its roots from Greek selēnitēs (lithos – stone), literally meaning a “stone of the moon”. Named after the Greek Goddess Selene, who lights the night sky in silky radiance, the mineral Selenite exudes a pearly luster which glows softly and ethereally like  moonlight.

Like the moon that reflects the light of the heavens, “as Above, so Below”, selenite mirrors this axiom in its atomic structure. All varieties of gypsum are composed of calcium sulfate dihydrate (meaning has two molecules of water), with the chemical formula CaSO4·2H2O.

Selenite belongs to the Prismatic Class of the monoclinic system. This class has a single 2-fold axis perpendicular to a single mirror plane, and pinacoid faces and prism faces.  A prism is defined as 3 or more identical faces that are all parallel to the same line.  In the prismatic class, these prisms consist of 4 identical faces.

The monoclinic system of crystal formation comprises crystals having three axes of unequal lengths. Two of which are usually found in a position that is oblique or not perpendicular to one another. However, both of which are commonly found perpendicular to the third axis.

The Prismatic Class of selenite has a 2/m symmetry, the mirror plane is perpendicular to the 2 fold rotational axis. It can turn the crossed, but not perpendicular, a and c axes 180 degrees and repeat the identical structure; just like an X can be turned upside down and still be the same X.

It is Selenite’s 2 fold rotational mirror plane (2/m) symmetry that is a direct reflection of the “as Above, so Below” manifestation. Another feature of Selenite is the rare hourglass phantom.  The hourglass symbol has long been used to represent this metaphysical reality.

This rare phantom occurs as both an visible  inclusion, and as a molecular structure only visible through fluorescence. Either way, Selenite’s status as a sacred, powerful crystal is revealed by its atomic structure. It is also said that the hourglass is another symbol for the Lemniscate, or the Infinity symbol.

Literally stamped with the symbol of the Infinite, the time for Selenite to take its place as one of the most powerful light crystals available has come.

Selenite transmits the resonant frequency of the heavens, reminding us of our true be-ing.

Metaphysical Properties

Selenite is known as the Mystical stone of “Crystal Clarity”.  Selenite’s high vibrational energy fills our being and all aspects of our lives with the pure love and light of the Divine Source. It provides clarity of mind, and enhances awareness of self and surroundings.

Selenite helps us to reach new states of consciousness, to rapidly shift blocked energy, clear away negative energy and remove emotional turmoil and confusion.  Selenite will also cleanse other crystals, clear unwanted energies and permeate its surroundings with pure clean white light energy.

Selenite is able to transmit light, energy, and information. Selenite can be used to gently open the chakras and relax the ethereal body for energy work. It balances the energy fields, and regulates its flow, enhancing both physical health and alignment with the Divine.

Associated with the Greek Goddess Selene, Selenite contains feminine energy and is often used to connect and commune with the Divine, especially goddess energy.  Some use it for angelic or spirit guide connection, or aid in interacting with the Ancients and Masters. 

Selenite crystals, or polished wands of Selenite, are often used as aids to help facilitate transporting one’s intentions to the Higher Self and/or the Universe. It quickly activates the third eye, crown and Soul Star chakras. Selenite resonates with the crown chakra, assists in making sound judgments and heightening intuition to manifest desires.

Selenite crystals are well-known to have the metaphysical properties of clearing negative energies and bringing in the light energy. Selenite grids are often used to protect one’s home or working area. Selenite can also be used in conjunction with Feng Shui to transmute negative “sha” energies and bringing in peaceful and calming light energy.

An excellent stone to use in meditation, selenite enhances intuition and understanding. It assists one to receive  knowledge, seeing clearly all that was once obscure. It lifts the fog of mis-perception of situations, clearing  the mental haze in a kind of  “aha” moment.  It can also be used to aid in accessing past  lives, revealing their karmic ties to our current embodiment, and how to release them.

Selenite is an excellent crystal to use for problem solving. Its use brings insight  into the very nature of things, and allows you to intuit what is needed in order to move forward. Selenite is  a very healing stone, like moonlight,  it works softly as it slowly clears a pathway to self-revelation.

Crown  Chakra – 7th Chakra

Located above the head, this chakra links individual and universal. The Crown chakra is associated with the pineal gland, brain and central nervous system.

The crown chakra is the body’s primary co-ordination center. It ensures a connection to universal sources of energy / information and with the world as a whole. The crown chakra signifies illumination.

The crown chakra acts as the scale for all the chakras, balancing the flow of energy to each. It governs our equilibrium and how we perceive / respond to events and situations. A balanced crown chakra is expressed in acceptance of new thoughts and ideas in one’s self and others, spiritual exploration, and heeding one’s inner guidance.

A balanced crown chakra allows for expanded awareness on an all levels.

The color associated with the crown chakra is Violet and or White. Violet is the ray of spiritual mastery. It is a blend of red (matter) and blue (spirit) and is associated with transformation. White is the ray of illumination. It is the combined light frequencies of all the chakras, balanced and in resonance.

Numerology

This crystal vibrates to the numbers 1 and 0, which is about the power of unity, the infinite in one, the one in infinite, that space of timeless possibilities,  service, freedom and the space that allows it all to happen in.

Crystal Habit

Selenite crystals commonly occur as tabular, reticular, and columnar crystals, often with no imperfections or inclusions, and thereby can appear water or glass-like. Many collectible selenite crystals have interesting inclusions such as, accompanying related minerals, interior druse, dendrites, and fossils. In some rare instances, water was encased as a fluid inclusion when the crystal formed.

Selenite crystals sometimes form in thin tabular or mica-like sheets and have been used as glass panes.

Selenite crystals sometimes will also exhibit bladed rosette habit (usually transparent and like desert roses) often with accompanying transparent, columnar crystals. Selenite crystals can be found both attached to a matrix or base rock, but can commonly be found as entire free-floating crystals, often in clay beds (and as can desert roses).

Satin spar is almost always prismatic and fibrous in a parallel crystal habit. Satin spar often occurs in seams, some of them quite long, and is often attached to a matrix or base rock.

Desert roses are most often bladed, exhibiting the familiar shape of a rose, and almost always have an exterior druse. Desert roses are almost always unattached to a matrix or base rock.

Gypsum flowers are most often acicular, scaly, stellate, and lenticular. Gypsum flowers most often exhibit simple twinning (known as contact twins); where parallel, long, needle-like crystals, sometimes having severe curves and bends, will frequently form “ram’s horns”, “fishtail”, “arrow/spear-head”, and “swallowtail” twins. Selenite crystals can also exhibit “arrow/spear-head” as well as “duck-bill” twins. Both selenite crystals and gypsum flowers sometimes form quite densely in acicular mats or nets; and can be quite brittle and fragile. Gypsum flowers are usually attached to a matrix (can be gypsum) or base rock.

Fibrous satin spar exhibits chatoyancy (cat’s eye effect). Some selenite and satin spar specimens exhibit fluorescence or phosphorescence.

When cut across the fibers and polished on the ends, satin spar exhibits an optical illusion when placed on a printed or pictured surface; and is often called and sold as the “television stone” (as is ulexite). Print and pictures appear to be on the surface of the sample.

All four crystalline varieties are slightly flexible, though will break if bent significantly. They are not elastic, meaning they can be bent, but will not bend back on their own.

All four crystalline varieties are sectile in that they can be easily cut, will peel (particularly selenite crystals that exhibit mica-like), and like all gypsum varieties, can be scratched by a fingernail (hardness: 2 on Mohs Scale). The rosettes are not quite as soft due to their exterior druse; nevertheless, they too can be scratched.

Selenite crystals that exhibit in either reticular or acicular habits, satin spar, in general (as fibrous crystals are thin and narrow), desert roses that are thinly bladed, and gypsum flowers, particularly acicular gypsum flowers, can be quite brittle and easily broken.

Gypsum has a very low thermal conductivity (hence it’s use in drywall as an insulating filler). A selenite crystal will feel noticeably warmer than a crystal of Quartz or the like.

Size

All four crystalline varieties can range in size from minute to giant selenite crystals measuring 11 meters long such as those found in the caves of the Naica Mine of Chihuahua, Mexico. The crystals thrived in the cave’s extremely rare and stable natural environment. Temperatures stayed at 58 °C, and the cave was filled with mineral-rich water that drove the crystals’ growth. The largest of those crystals weigh 55 tons and are 500,000 years old.

Occurrence

Gypsum occurs on every continent and is the most common of all the sulfate minerals.

Gypsum is formed as an evaporative mineral, frequently found in alkaline lake muds, clay beds, evaporated seas, salt flats, salt springs, and caves. Gypsum, also, is frequently found in conjunction with other minerals such as, copper ores, sulfur and sulfides, silver, iron ores, coal, calcite, dolomite, limestone, and opal. Gypsum has been dated to almost every geologic age since the Silurian Period 443.7 ± 1.5 Ma.

In dry, desert conditions and arid areas, sand may become trapped both on the inside and the outside of gypsum crystals as they form. Interior inclusion of sand can take on shapes such as, an interior hourglass shape common to selenite crystals of the ancient Great Salt Plains Lake bed, Oklahoma, USA. Exterior inclusion (druse) occurs as embedded sand grains on the surface such as, commonly seen in the familiar desert rose.

When gypsum dehydrates severely, anhydrite is formed. If water is reintroduced, gypsum can and will reform – including as the four crystalline varieties. An example of gypsum crystals reforming in modern times is found at Philips Copper Mine (closed and abandoned), Putnam County, New York, USA where selenite micro crystal coatings are commonly found on numerous surfaces (rock and otherwise) in the cave and in the dump.

© Mark Naea, Life’s Treasures Kauai 2010, no reproduction without written consent.

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