By Isabella @TheWandCarver
Instagram: @thewandcarver
When you hold a Carnelian, you feel you have held the ages in your hand. It is a warm and knowledgeable crystal and it gives you the feeling that it knows you very well. And there is no wonder as to why – Carnelian is known as a stone of motivation and endurance, leadership, and courage; it gives a rush of warmth and joy that lingers.
Carnelian is an orange-coloured variety of Chalcedony, a mineral of the Quartz family. Although Its name comes from a Latin word meaning “flesh”, it reminds one more of beautiful sunsets in its reddest hue. The ancient Egyptians called Carnelian “the setting sun” and they considered it the active male energy stone, recognised by its glowing vibrant colour. Whilst Carnelian is mainly a reddish to orange hue, it also comes in pinkish-orange colouration to a deep rusty brown.
Ancient warriors wore Carnelian around their necks for courage and physical power to conquer their enemies. Alchemists of the Middle Ages used it as a boiling stone to activate the energy of other Chalcedonies to transform their energy into useful form. In ancient Egypt, Carnelian was thought to be the stone of form and design worn by master architects, to show their rank of builder. The 29th chapter of the Book of the Dead was engraved on Carnelian, as were many of the body amulets, asking for Isis and other Gods to assure safe passage in their afterlife. Carnelian is said to be the first stone in the breastplate of the High Priest, engraved with the name Reuben; it also garnished the sixth foundation wall for the New Jerusalem.
Magickal:
Carnelian is said to attract prosperity, untapped resources and good luck. It is a talisman for success in any money-making venture. If you have read my blog Free Business and Money Spells. Really you may already know the best day and hour of the week to do a business spell is on a Sunday during the hour of the Sun. In the spell you must create a talisman for drawing wealth to your business. What better crystal for the job than Carnelian? Apart from perhaps Sunstone. But I suggest Carnelian as it has money, wealth, and luck drawing powers.
Carnelian is also a fierce protection stone. It is traditionally known to guard against falling masonry and accidents with tools. And, it guards the home from theft, fire, storm or accident. If you have a friend / loved one working in any kind of building of homes or businesses, gift them with a piece of Carnelian jewellery or just a few tumblestones to carry in their pockets. I would also suggest for home protection to have a small glass bowl filled with some small, inexpensive pieces of Carnelian to set in your Health and Well-being area of your home, which in Feng Shui is the centre of your home. These will offer over-all protection for your family, pets, and home. If needs must and you can’t set the bowl in centre of house, perhaps you can attach a tumblestone to a short cord to suspend from ceiling.
Orange and red Carnelian are important crystals to use for love, and for the consummation of love. Orange crystals, particularly, are fertility and potency symbols and are linked with conceiving a child. Carnelian of either colour may help in rekindling passions that might have faded in an otherwise loving relationship.
In ancient times, Carnelian was believed to give the wearer courage in battle and to help timid speakers become both eloquent and bold. Today the same holds true for Carnelian is also called the Stone of Courage and the Singer’s Stone. Carnelian clarifies the voice and gives confidence to the person on stage, whether they are there to sing or to give a speech.
Healing:
Carnelian is full of the life force, stimulating metabolism and a good supply of blood to the organs and tissues. It influences the reproductive organs of both sexes, and increases fertility, overcoming frigidity and impotence. It aids in menstrual and menopausal symptoms and may aid in vitro and artificial insemination.
It benefits in the absorption of vitamins, nutrients, and minerals in the small intestine, and improves blood viscosity and circulation. It helps reduce congestion, phlebitis, varicose veins and haemorrhoids, as well as boils and skin irritations. Carnelian accelerates scarification and heals nosebleeds. However, if these recur, consult a doctor.
It helps heal lower back problems, rheumatism, arthritis, neuralgia, and accelerates healing in bones and ligaments. It aids the relief of depression, especially in those of advanced years.
It provides excellent support for detoxifying from alcohol or other drugs, breaking bad physical habits, and for improving overall health in general.
Please never use information from this blog or anywhere online to self-diagnose or treat your symptoms without seeing a doctor first. Many symptoms can be the same for many different diseases – some may not be serious whilst others are very serious and may need serious medical treatment.
Carnelian is a stabilising crystal, perfect for anchoring in the present. Its high energy helps restore lost vitality and motivation and stimulates creativity for new pursuits. It improves concentration and removes extraneous thoughts in daydreamers, and during meditation. This stone also protects against envy, rage, and resentment – yours, or from others, and encourages a love of life. It is useful for overcoming abuse of any kind, helping you to trust yourself and your perceptions.
Carnelian alleviates jealousy and possessiveness in relationships, and is helpful in overcoming sexual anxieties, and eating disorders. It is also beneficial with male mid-life crisis.
The reddish-orange Carnelian is the stone of the Sacral Chakra. Gut feelings, intuition, and other “non-linear” communication comes from this chakra. When it is out of balance the symptoms will manifest themselves as confusion, over dependency on others, repression of feelings, inability to feel joy, fear of sensuality or sex, and frustration. When it is in balance you have grace, feel pleasure in life, find you are flexible and can “go with the flow” and do so in good spirit. Darker shades of Carnelian are helpful to the Base Chakra and the pink shades resonate with the Heart Chakra.
Carnelian is always a good crystal to have near when you read Tarot or cast runes…or even pendulum dowsing.
Correspondences:
Planet: Mars
Zodiac: Aries
Element: Fire
Gender: Masculine
Powers: Healing, Courage, Intuition, Protection, Money, Luck, Love, Fertility
Chakras: Sacral [Base and Heart depending on stone colour]
Deity: Isis, Ra
Other Names: The Singer’s Stone, the Stone of Courage
Many thanks for reading and warmest blessings to all whom this way wander x
Sources:
Robert Simmons & Naisha Ahsian, The Book of Stones (Berkley, CA: North Atlantic Books, 2007
Cassandra Eason, The New Crystal Bible, London: Carlton Books Ltd., 2010
Judy Hall, The Crystal Bible, Cincinnati, OH: Walking Stick Press, 2003
Judy Hall, The Crystal Bible 2, Cincinnati, OH: Walking Stick Press, 2009
George Frederick Kunz, The Curious Lore of Precious Stones, New York: Dover Publications, 1971
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