With increasing numbers of people turning to ‘natural’ remedies, crystals are hugely popular for their alleged healing abilities. This is not just a recent fad. Crystals have been used for centuries as aids to healing and wellbeing. One of the oldest is malachite (pronounced Mal uh kite).
What is it?
Malachite is a green carbonate mineral which is commonly called copper carbonate. Its name is from the Greek word ‘molochitis’ which means ‘mallow green stone’. It was used as a green pigment in handmade paint from the time of the ancient Greeks until around 1800.
Its’ color can range from a bright green to an almost black shade of green. The banding of the crystal makes it particularly appealing when sliced and highly polished.
As a result of its’ beauty and rarity, it was hugely popular as a sign of wealth in Imperialist Russia and was quarried extensively in the Urals. In 1835, miners in the Urals found a boulder of the best quality malachite that took nine years to free. It took twelve years to bring it to the surface and it was found to weigh over 260 tons. It was used to decorate the homes of the Tzars and St Isaac’s Cathedral in St. Petersburg.
Malachite heals through the ages.
Ancient Egypt
The Ancient Egyptians first mined malachite as long ago as 4,000 BC. They believed that the area of Sinai where it was mined was ruled by Hathor – Goddess of beauty, happiness, love and women. Malachite was much sought after because it was the easiest of copper-containing-minerals to reduce to a copper metal, which was then made into bands worn around the forehead and upper arms.
The Egyptians noticed that slaves who mined malachite didn’t succumb to the cholera epidemics that often wiped out huge numbers of people. As a result, it became very popular in jewelry and amulets for its’ protection.
Malachite in Kohl
We are all familiar with the hieroglyphics showing Egyptian women with heavily painted eyeliner which was called Kohl. One of the ingredients was udju, made from malachite. It was undoubtedly to do with beautification but it was recently discovered that galena, a base ingredient in kohl, also has disinfectant and fly repellent properties – which would have kept their eyes healthier despite the ever-present flies and hot Egyptian sun.
The wearing of Kohl was also believed to give phychic protection against the ‘evil eye’. Some believe that women also wore it to attract the protection of the Goddess, Hathor.
Ancient Greeks
The Greeks also used malachite to make jewelry which was believed to keep away evil spirits, bad spells and negative thoughts.
The Middle Ages
Because malachite has a swirling pattern which is something like a ‘protective’ peacock feather, malachite was believed to be a strong force against evil and black magic. It was a ‘safety’ stone for children, who were encouraged to carry a piece. It was said that if the child was in danger, the malachite would break; warning the child and giving it time to get away. A piece was often fastened to a baby’s crib to ward off evil spirits and prevent nightmares.
It was also called ‘the midwife’s stone’ – a name which some still use for it today. This is because it was believed to bring relief for menstrual pain and also give a woman an easier labor.
Malachite is associated with:
Chakras – heart and throat
Signs of the Zodiac – Libra, Scorpio and Capricorn
Planet - Venus
Element – Earth
How Malachite can help you
If you wish to use malachite and find that it doesn’t seem to be helping a situation, try combining it with copper to increase its’ power. This can be achieved by wearing jewelry made of copper and malachite or by carrying a piece of both.
Malachite is a strong stone of protection. If you feel as if you are being victimised or ‘got at’, try carrying a piece in your pocket or wear some jewelry containing it. It is believed to absorb negative energies from both the outside world and from the wearer’s own body.
It is good for clearing atmospheric pollution due to radiation and electro magnetic waves. People with many items of ‘technology’ in their homes, or who live under electricity pylons often feel unwell. Try counteracting this by wearing malachite or place a piece of it on each pc monitor, TV, microwave etc.
Stuck in a rut?
Malachite helps to give you the courage to take risks, move away from unwanted associations and old patterns of behaviour. It releases inhibitions and helps you to let go of negative past experiences and previous traumas which you may feel have been holding you back from reaching your true potential. If you’re feeling emotionally numb, it can help you to open your heart.
Problems once a month?
This crystal can help to smooth out mood swings caused by menstrual periods or menopause. It can help with cramps and helps with labor.
Other uses…
- Helps you to take responsibility for your own actions and their repercussions so that you stop blaming others and spreading negativity.
- Helps to lighten mental upsets.
- Can help with dyslexia.
- Boosts the immune system and nervous system.
- Lowers blood pressure.
Helps with
- Asthma
- Arthritis
- Epilepsy
- Travel sickness
- Vertigo
- Eye problems
- Helps the liver to get rid of toxins from the body
Malchite and your chakras
Malchite can help to clear and strengthen all of your chakras. These are the ‘energy points’ of the body and it is believed that they need to be operating properly to allow a strong flow of energy throughout your body, for optimum physical, emotional and spiritual health.
Malachite is particularly associated with the heart chakra. Wearing or carrying it can help to get rid of potentially self-destructive tendencies towards over romanticizing a situation, person or relationship and therefore encourage pure, true love. This includes self-love, which is often overlooked but which is the basis for positive interactions in all relationships and in the workplace.
If you are undergoing any form of heart ‘trauma’, whether it is due to physical illness or the experience of emotional abuse, abandonment, separation, infidelity, divorce or bereavement – then malachite is the stone for you.
As mentioned at the beginning of this article, this has been realized for centuries and the ancients knew that for the human body to function well, this vibration has to be correctly ‘tuned’. Just think of your body as a radio. When it is correctly tuned in, the sound is clear and easy to understand. If it’s not, the sound is muffled and indistinct. When you’re well, your body is ‘in tune’ and it’s out of tune when you’re ill or stressed.
We
are two friends who are interested in improving our health and overall well-being both spiritually and mentally. We each work from home which gives us the time to experiment with different natural health care products and foods, supplements and various self improvement programs and philosophies. We both love the law of attraction, meditating and relaxing our minds and bodies with Qigong. We also exercise using the PACE program
