Crystals In African and Diaspora Mysticism

alum – a good deodorant for people of African descent who find others irritating or allergy inducing, it also tightens up other things…and wards off “evil eye”.  Also used to suck the evil out of people or close doors that are currently open and allowing them to harm others.  Clean a new home by putting a chunk of it in the corners.

amber – sacred to Yemaya/Olokun and Oshun, it wards off negativity, and can be charged with various emotions.  Most commonly used for protection and preservation of love.  Blue and green amber are particularly rare, and help to draw powerful yet peaceful, loving energy.  Black sea amber is a strong protection tool.  Dominican amber is particularly good to give to sailors, along with aquamarine and larimar.

agate

  • carnelian agate – actually a chalcedony, sacred to Shango and Eshu, and treasured by Middle Eastern peoples as protective against evil and tragedy.  In the diaspora, it is used to make necklaces and talismans for Eshu and Shango.  It increases luck and boosts the fire element.
  • onyx (black and white or gray banded agate) – cut into spheres, domes, or diamond shapes it is used to repel the “evil eye”. Helps a person to keep their cool in sexual or intense situations. It can also be left in a place for psychic surveillance.  Also helps one to remember lessons from their past.
  • sardonyx (red and white or red, white, and orange banded agate) – sacred to Shango.  Repels “evil eye” when cut into spheres, domes, or diamond shapes, but in the way of burning it away as opposed to just repelling.  Useful when the evil eye is coming from posessiveness and exploitive desire rather than just jealousy.
  • zig-zag pattern banded agates – used to confuse enemies or repel negative energy

anhydrite, called “angelite” when blue – although the new age scene has decided this stone is all positive, it can serve as a beacon for the unquiet dead.  Blue stones are often found as the treasures or weapons of Abiku.  So on the one hand, anhydrite is good for people who travel astrally, make sure that nothing but the kind of energy you want is connected to it when you return.  It’s one of those stones with a “handle with care” warning.

beryl

  • aquamarine – sacred to Yemaya/Olokun, used for good luck in sea voyages and swimming or diving
  • emerald – sacred to Oshun, enhances beauty and elegance, makes one feel younger and refreshed
  • goshenite (clear) – helps to achieve justice and find out what justice would be in a situation
  • heliodor beryl (green-brownish yellow) – sacred to Oshun and Orun, enhances sun tolerance, makes one feel energetic despite hot weather, shines a light on hidden motives
  • morganite (pink) – sacred to Oba, helps to preserve marriage in the long term by reminding people why and how they fell in love, helps keep a woman loyal if you give her some jewelry made from it, symbolizes enduring love

chalcedony – Various kinds of chalcedony are used for protection, healing, and the making of talismans that require symbols or text to be written or engraved on a surface.  Carving something into chalcedony “sets it in stone” because the engravings tend to last through considerable wear and tear over the years.  Some talismans that are hundreds of years old are still being worn for normal wear by the great great grandchildren of those who first received them.

  • aventurine – sacred to Osayin, helps to heal skin problems and boosts the power of healing herbal formulas
  • bloodstone – sacred to Ogun, helps to clean the blood and one’s life of impurities.  It is good for breaking addictions more quickly.  Helps one to become or stay organized and calm in tough situations.  Also helps people in metallurgy or technology to succeed.
  • green ocean jasper – protects fields and helps plants to grow more healthily
  • mterolite – sacred to Ogun, strengthens resolve by sealing a person off from outside influence.  It is especially helpful when going into hostile situations in which one doesn’t wish to be obvious by carrying or wearing black stones such as jet, obsidian, or nuummite.  People will just think you’re wearing jade or aventurine.
  • red jasper – increases sexual stamina and energy, sometimes carved into phallic or frog shapes and carried as talismans, also helps people to be more expressive in love

chalk – also called “efun”, it is sacred to all Orishas, and is used for drawing sacred symbols or smeared on the body to honor or show the presence of the Ancestors.  Cascarilla is a chalk made from egg shells, and is widely used in the diaspora.  In Africa, efun is made from snail shells or sea shells.  The Kongo got white chalk/kaolin clay from the banks of streams.  Flour and starches are also used as chalk sometimes.

charcoal and ashes – the charcoal or ashes of various plants are used to mark the body and heal ailments(usually some sort of mineral deficiency).  Some ashes are used as sunscreen, while others are used to indicate mourning or connection with the Ancestors.

cobalt (blue) – sacred to Yemaya/Olokun, it is used to hypnotize, remind one of the sea, as a homing mineral for water Spirits, and to dispell the evil eye by reminding people of our common origin.  If you are wealthy, you should always serve guests in your home water in cobalt blue glasses whether they ask for it or not.

copper – sacred to Ogun and Oya, helps to channel and direct energy.  If you want to make a storm, this is the metal to use.  It can give a boost of energy from the elements or send lightning to strike an enemy if properly used.

gagate (also called jet, black amber, black earth amber, or azabache) – an extremely strong protection against “evil eye” and negative spells.

garnet (dark red almandine and pyrope) – sacred to Oya, it represents the “eye of the storm”.  It helps you to keep your head in chaotic situations.  Also aids in depression due to frustration and cleans the blood.

glass – sacred to Ogun, glass is an amplifier of the properties of other crystals, and a container for energy corresponding to its color and chemicals and minerals used to color it.  It can also be used as a homing stone for Spirits.  Sea tumbled glass has a lot of Yemaya/Olokun energy in it, though red sea tumbled glass is associated with Exu Mare (Eshu of the sea).  Slag glass, a byproduct of iron slag, is especially sacred to Ogun, and will bring you the gifts of the Earth.

gold – sacred to Orun and Oshun, it helps to attract success and heighten the charisma and endurance of happy people so they don’t get discouraged.  It can however, cause greed or “gold fever” if it is acquired from an unethical source.

kyanite – sacred to Yemaya, calms a person down and helps them to organize their thoughts, induces happiness, helps in meditation, concentration, and reduces test anxiety

larimar – sacred to Oloaina, Aganju, Yemaya, and Olokun.  Only found in the Dominican Republic, this stone is used mainly for healing, serenity, and curing irrational mental distress and paranoia.  It is also kept in a room to repel negative energy and evil eye.

meteorite – iron from meteorites was used to make spear tips, and later by some for sacred spears, arrowheads, and other blades.  In modern African mysticism, it is considered sacred to Obatala and/or the cosmic/universal Ogun.  It may be one of the esoteric meanings behind the stories of Ogun’s rape of Yemaya.  Perhaps some saw the penetration of iron meteorites into the earth as this happening.

moonstone – sacred to Osu and Auset, it calls the energy of the moon, increases femininity and feminine intuition.  It is very helpful in trance/visionary work, and healing those with a damaged femininity or feminine side.



Buy Respectful African Spirituality Centered Art

About K. Sis. Nicole T.N. Lasher

Sis. Nicole T. Lasher (Sheloya) is the female king of Ile Baalat Teva, an African diaspora spirituality group in northern Israel.

2 Comments

  1. Pingback: How are crystals used in Vodun and diaspora systems? | Orisha Online Altar

  2. Thank you very much for this educative link. I appreciate!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.