Tourmaline – Touring the Crystalline Rainbow

The name Tourmaline comes for the Singhalese words “turamali”, which loosely translates to “stone with mixed colors”. Tourmaline comes in every color of the rainbow and according to an old Egyptian legend, tourmaline, on its long journey up from the center of the Earth, passed over a rainbow and assumed all the rainbow colors.

Metaphysically, Tourmalines are one of the most powerful and healing of gemstones to work with. The resonant energy of Tourmalines  relates to each of the chakras according to its color.

Tourmaline can be used to attract inspiration, to diminish fear by promoting understanding, and to encourage self confidence. It acts to clear, maintain and stimulate each of the energy centers of the body.

Tourmaline provides a balancing of the male/female energies within the body and further provides for balancing of the mind. It is thought to bring healing powers to the user and to provide protection from all dangers occurring on the physical plane.

Tourmaline is the traditional birthstone for the month of October. Members of the tourmaline family of minerals have basically the same crystal structure, but occurs in many colors, each with their own name.

Red or Pink tourmalines are called Rubellite, these are the most highly prized.

Neon Blue (turquoise), Green, Blue, Mauve and Violet (Paraiba) tourmalines are named after district in Brazil they were found in. They are highly sought after and the most expensive.

Dark Blue tourmaline is called Indicolite, an is often heat treated to lighten it’s color and create a more attractive stone.

Bi-colored or Multi-colored Gem Tourmaline (Elbaite) contains bands of distinct colors including green, blue, pink and clear.

Brown or dark colored tourmaline is called Dravite, and it’s color is often lightened with heat treating.

Colorless tourmaline is called Achroite, it is particularly rare, but may be produced by heat treating pink tourmalines.

Watermelon tourmaline are pink in the center and greenor blue on the rim.

Black iron rich tourmaline is called Schorl and it is very common.

Yellow tourmaline or yellow-green is often simply called by it’s color.

Green tourmaline is called Verdilite. The green form of this stone was often confused with the emerald until the 18th century.

Achroite (colorless tourmaline) is a stone of higher consciousness. It synthesizes all other colors and opens the Crown Chakra. It aligns the meridians of the physical and etheric bodies. It can be used to bring you into contact with the angelic realm. Achroite is an excellent channeling stone for communication with higher planes and increases flexibility, happiness, objectivity, compassion and serenity. Enhancing tolerance and understanding, Achroite is a very protective crystal.

Black Tourmaline (Schorl) is a 1st chakra stone that aids in making changes and transformations. It is well known as a purifying stone that deflects and transforms negative energy, and thus is very protective. It can transform and remove negativity from an individual or an environment. Black Tourmaline is widely used as a grounding stone. It has also been used to deflect radiation energy from tv’s and computer monitors. It is often used as an aura cleanser, and can help one attain higher levels of awareness. Emotionally, Black Tourmaline is excellent for dispelling fears, obsessions, and neuroses, bringing emotional stability.

Blue Tourmaline (Indicolite) is probably the rarest form of tourmaline. Indicolite corresponds to all chakras in terms of clearing, but particularly to the throat and third eye chakras. Wonderful for aligning with higher self for deep insight, vision, intuition, mental peace and patience. It is said to aid in the quest for spiritual growth. It increases psychic awareness, and increases healing powers. Indicolite can also bring happiness and laughter to your life. It also promotes inspiration of all kinds, and lessens fear. Indicolite is a protective stone that can dispel curses and protect one from all dangers.

Brown Tourmaline (Dravite) helps one to form a subtle but solid Earth connection. Said to bring a realization of the “God within”. Can be used to clear the aura and align the energies of the auric field about the body. Most effective grounding of the tourmalines, it is thought to open the Chakras for alignment and, at the same time, provide strength and balance. Dravite is thought to pull negativity from the Aura. Helpful to the 2nd Chakra and to those who are very timid or have weak willpower.

Green Tourmaline (Verdelite) is associated with the Heart Chakra. It strengthens the heart, will to live and life force while soothing the emotions. Cleanses meridians & blocks, stimulates new growth, rejuvenates heart. Use this stone to draw money and success in business, when worn it stimulates one’s creativity. Green Tourmaline is also said to emanate the energies of love, joy and inner harmony. It is believed to be a stone which can help one to overcome sorrow or traumatic memories. Green Tourmaline clears the emotional body of past life as well as this life traumas and negative emotional patterns, it is protective in the sense that it offers safety and trust while detoxifying.

Paraiba Tourmaline is a new variety, so called because of where it was found in Brazil. It has appeared in the most amazing colors of neon blue (turquoise), green, blue, mauve and violet. The bright neon blue is rare and gets it’s color from it’s high gold content . The Paraiba Tourmaline enhances all energies of the colors represented, also the properties of other minerals with which it contacts. It is a powerful stone! The Turquoise (Neon Blue) Paraibais linked to the “Angel of Joy”. It gives us strength, inspiration, perception and patience. It awakens the desire to support others who need help on the path, opening the heart to the Joy of giving, supporting and helping. The violet Paraibais linked to the Angel of Aspiring Love. It helps us to understand that helping andprotecting energies surround us. Its unique task is placing Angels at our side. Everything is possible. Help is unlimited and so is grace. It seems to have an apparently inconspicuous effect. Few people recognize its greatness.

Pink Tourmaline is an aphrodisiac that attracts love in the material and spiritual world. Providing assurance that it is safe to love, it inspires trust in love and confirms that it is necessary to love yourself before you can hope to be loved by others. It disperses emotional pain and old destructive feelings through the heart chakra, which it cleanses, and synthesises love with spirituality. Promoting peace and relaxation, Pink Tourmaline connects you to wisdom and compassion and stimulates receptivity to healing energies. Pink Tourmaline is a good choice for children recovering from abuse. Brings deep comforting love energy. Transforms negative behavior into positive.
 
Red Tourmaline (Rubellite) is a stone of balance and calm. Emotionally, rubellite helps bring emotional balance and helps one open up, relax, and detach from personal pain. Red Tourmaline clears the emotional body of past-life and this-life traumas and negative emotional patterns. As prosperity is a natural effect of a life in balance, rubellite also brings abundance. Rubellite is also a stone of passion, bringing passionate energy and love.When worn, it lends more energy to the body, promotes courage and strengthens the will.

Watermelon Tourmaline is a configuration of Tourmaline which exhibits a green or blue rind anda pink or red core. This is not the same as Tourmaline which is bi-colored, exhibiting both the pink and green or pink and blue colors. Watermelon Tourmaline is the “super activator” of the heart chakra; providing stimulation, energizing and connection with the heart chakra of the higher-self. It encourages one to look past the seriousness of an experience or a situation and to recognize both the benefit of, and the humor in, the experience/situation. It helps to allow oneself the experience of the beauty of nature, while diminishing emotionalism. It also enhances cooperative efforts and inspires tact in all situations. It is a protective stone which is said to balance and harmonize the chakras. It works with the heart and higher heart chakras, cleansing and removing blockages, soothing and relieving stress, and offering enhanced physical healing.  Watermelon Tourmaline is thought to help lessen depression and mend emotional wounds by allowing the one to see the meaning and purpose of certain events in life. As a balancing stone, Watermelon Tourmaline functions as a combination of male andfemale energies, both Yin andYang together in one crystal.  It can help to inspire both creativity and practicality, and connects the Heart Chakra to both physical and spiritual vibrations.  Watermelon Tourmaline aids in removing insecurities and calming overactive emotions.  Watermelon Tourmaline is also believed to help attract love and resolve issues in relationships, infusing them with joy and Divine Love.

Yellow Tourmaline is said to enhance a heightened intelligence and spiritual awareness.

© Mark Naea, Life’s Treasures Kauai 2009, no reproduction without written consent.