11.25.09
Posted in Healing Oils, Information, Jewelry at 12:03 pm by Administrator
Everyone in America grew up learning the story of the Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving. After a harsh winter in 1620-21, a local Indian named Squanto showed them how to plant corn and other foods as well as where the best places to fish were. The autumn harvest was very bountiful and the Governor of the Provence proclaimed a day of thanksgiving in honor of their harvest.
An annual day of Thanksgiving was held every year for many years. It wasn’t until 1817 when the state of New York adopted Thanksgiving as an official holiday. By the mid-19th century many other states had adopted Thanksgiving as an annual custom too. In 1863, President Lincoln signed a bill making Thanksgiving an official national holiday to be celebrated the fourth Thursday of every November.
Mystical Charm wishes you all a wonderful holiday season full of fun and family. Take advantage of our $1.99 shipping while it lasts!
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11.22.09
Posted in Egyptian, Jewelry at 1:53 pm by Administrator
Hematite has a significant history, due to its shiny, metallic and slightly magnetic properties with colors varying from metallic gray to earthy red. In fact, hematite jewelry is this Examiner’s favorite, and she wears it often to compliment various outfits.
When found, most hematite is streaked with red, consisting primarily of iron, despite the type of hematite. A large supply of hematitic banded iron is located in the upper peninsula of Michigan due to its iron mines. A new process called magnetation uses huge magnets to remove waste hematite from old mine tailings in Minnesota’s Mesabi Range iron district.
Uses of hematite have varied over the years. Hematite red chalk residues have been found in old graveyards from 80,000 years ago. Near Rydno in Poland and Lovas in Hungary, palaeolitic red chalk mines have been found that are from 5000 BC, belonging to the Linear Pottery culture at the Upper Rhine. Ancient Egyptians made cylindrical seals out of hematite and used them to roll impressions onto clay tablets or pottery. (see photo) It is also used in art such as intaglio engraved gems. It was used as a pigment in various paints, especially with the red portion of the mineral. The name hematite is derived from the Greek word for blood because hematite can be red, as in rouge, a powdered form of hematite.
Hematite has been used by mineral and crystal healers because of Hematite’s association with blood. They use it in their rituals for treating blood-related illnesses such as hemophilia, anemia, heart, kidney and liver diseases, cardio-vascular weakness, menstrual cramps, and nose bleeds. Healers recommend hematite for use in treating the stress of jet lag, birth and surgery, tumors, insomnia, leg cramps, nervous disorders and fevers. Hematite was also a Native American remedy for dental problems, pimples, canker sores and alcohol abuse.
Hematite’s popularity in jewelry was at its highest in Europe during the Victorian era from 1837 to 1901 during Queen Victoria’s reign in the United Kingdom. Since then, hematite has seen a strong resurgence in North America, especially in the western United States. During this Examiner’s trip to the Bahamas, homemade hematite jewellery compliments shell jewellry in many shops.
To see some amazing hematite jewelry, visit www.mysticalcharm.com and search for “Hematite”.
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11.12.09
Posted in Fantasy, Information, Jewelry, Uncategorized, travel at 11:06 am by Administrator
For thousands of years, architects have built this world. What started as simple mud huts soon moved to stone structures and then on to taller buildings. After a while, the act of building became common place. It was only a matter of time before kings and nobles wanted to out do one another and make their building stand out. Starting from before the 1st century B.C.E. into what we call the Middle Ages, architects would turn simple water spouts into Gargoyles.
The practice started in ancient Egypt where gargoyles ejected the water used to clean sacred vessels which was done on the roof of the temple. In ancient Greece, water would pass through the mouth of a lion carved into the building out of marble.
A great number of medieval cathedrals are adorned with gargoyles. The most famous of these is the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris. During it’s construction, a number of gargoyles were constructed. Some were designed to convey water, others were put in place to ward off evil spirits. The king of France had a number of enemies at the time and ordered the architect to design every fourth gargoyle in the likeness of on of his enemies. To this day if you look closely at the gargoyles on Notre Dame, you will notice every fourth one looks much more human than the others.
Both ornamented and unornamented water spouts were common on buildings until the early 18th century. At that time, more and more buildings were using pipe guttering to convey water directly to street level. In 1724, the London Building Act made pipe guttering compulsory for all new construction and gargoyles fell out of favor.
What started as a simple means to convey water took on a life of it’s own. Next time you find yourself in a European city, take a look up and see what details you notice.
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11.04.09
Posted in Fantasy, Information, Jewelry, Runes, Symbols at 10:21 am by Administrator
Simply put, amethyst is a purple variety of quartz. Impurities in the quartz, such as ferric iron and possibly manganese. Somehow, science has a way of taking the mystical portion away from just about anything. Amethyst is much more than a simple crystal.
Amethyst has been a precious stone for thousands of years. The name comes from a-(not) and -methustos (intoxicated). Amethyst literally means “not drunk” since the ancient Greeks and Romans believed it had the power to keep one from feeling the effects of wine. They would make charms and drinking vessels out of amethyst believing it could keep them from getting drunk.
There are stories about how amethyst got it’s purple color. Most involve Dionysis (the Greek god of wine) turning a beautiful woman into crystal and then weeping tears of wine over her because of what he has done (ancient gods seem to have a very ADD quality about them) thus turning the crystals purple.
Today, amethyst and other crystals are better understood. There is no evidence to suggest that wearing an amethyst crystal will keep you from getting a hangover, but there is evidence that amethyst works in concert with your bodies natural electromagnetic field to induce healing and tranquil feelings. Amethyst can also be used in meditation to channel your thoughts and open blocked energy paths.
Whatever your feelings, amethyst is a beautiful crystal with more than it’s fair share of mystery and romance.
Mystical Charm hopes you have a wonderful holiday season full of fun and family.
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11.02.09
Posted in Fantasy, Information, Jewelry, Runes, Symbols at 11:23 am by Administrator
For a number of years, we have had stories of people with superhuman powers battling for control in one way of another. We have Superman, Spiderman, Batman, Wonder Woman and many more. These are stories most of us a familiar with us from comic books and movies.
Thousands of years ago, ancient people had the same thing. They told stories of gods with superhuman powers fighting monsters and traveling to far away lands. Each culture had it’s particular gods and stories to tell about them. In the far north in ancient Scandanavia tales were told of Thor and his hammer, Mjollnir.
Thor’s hammer is said to have the power to level mountains. If thrown it would return to Thor’s hand. To wield Mjollnir, special gauntlets had to be worn and a belt that would increase the power of the hammer. There are many stories about how the hammer was forged and not everyone agrees which is the most accurate.
Today, the stories are told in comic books and soon to be in the movies. Thor and Mjollnir have endured the centuries and is still today a major icon. Scandanavian people still pray to Thor just as some people pray to a saint. The symbol of Mjollnir is found in many places all over Scandanavia, in towns and on the crest of many families of Nordic descent.
Germanic Neopagans are fond of wearing pendants depicting Mjollnir as a sign of their faith. There has been some controversy in the United States as to it’s religious undertones since it resembles an upside down cross. These are usually the rantings of overzealous Christians who have little or no understanding of cultures outside their small town.
Mystical Charm hopes you have a wonderful Autumn season and looks forward to your comments and insights.
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