Sacred Stones October 2011 Crystal of the Month: Citrine By Larry Bassett Background: Citrine is the second most well known variety of quartz after amethyst. It is another sacred stone because it was said to be in the breastplates of the high priests. The colors of natural citrine range from a pale yellow to a a yellowish orange. It is easy to spot the heat treated amethyst that becomes citrine because the colors are darker. The colors range from a golden brown, dark orange-brown and brownish red to a dark burnt umber. The first modern description of citrine was made by E. S. Dana in 1892. E. S. Dana named citrine after the French word citron for lemon because of the similar color. Historically, citrine was highly valued as a gemstone as early as 400 B.C. in Greece and Italy. Citrine was considered a gift from the sun. Citrine is sometimes known as yellow quartz, yellow topaz, Saxon topaz, Madeira, Madeira topaz and Spanish topaz. It is also referred to as the success stone, abundance stone, and the merchants stone. It goes by these other names because it is believed to promote success in business and personal ventures. Many cultures believe citrine will attract money if it is placed in a cash register or a cash box in a place of business. It is a talisman for good fortune and abundance. Citrine is found in Brazil, USA, Spain, Madagascar, Argentina, Namibia, Scotland and probably anywhere quartz is found. Why I Love This Stone: I love citrine because it does so many things. It calms and soothes. It is another crystal used as a protective talisman in many cultures. Historically citrine was believed to imbue wisdom and peace to the wearer. Quartz (in all forms) was scientifically shown by Marcel Vogel to change the frequency of energy. It dissipates negative energy in the body by absorbing this lower frequency energy and replacing it with a higher frequency energy. I see the lower energy as darkness in the body. The energy coming out of citrine is light. Citrine is one of the few stones that requires no cleansing. It is like the sun, it will dispel the darkness for everything in its energetic field. It illuminates as it elevates moods and 1
instills a sense of peace. It is excellent for cleansing the aura and aligning the subtle bodies. It stabilizes emotions as it dispels anger. It helps one to look for fresh alternatives and new beginnings. It instills a sense of wellbeing and abundance which is why it is called the success stone. Composition: The references say citrine is quartz (one silicon with two oxygen atoms) with one or more types of iron impurities. Citrine contains iron compounds that vary depending upon the location. The color is caused by iron, iron oxides, colloidal iron hydrates, iron hydroxides and possibly other iron varieties. The iron compounds were heated in the earth and this is what turns the quartz yellow. This is exactly what happens when they bake amethyst to create citrine. The yellow color is very rare in the crystal world. Physical Properties: Citrine is rated with a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale. As a variety of quartz citrine has the piezoelectric and pyroelectric properties where the energy and polarity of the crystal changes due to heat, electric current or pressure. These properties provide amplification and the transformation of energy. Citrine and all forms of quartz are programmable as scientifically demonstrated by Marcel Vogel. Marcel discovered that a six sided quartz can be programmed with six commands. He also demonstrated how quartz changes or amplifies an energy field. Most crystals look muddy or dirty after bodywork sessions without cleansing the crystals. Citrine is one of 26 known crystals that requires no cleansing. It always looks clean and beautiful regardless of how many people work with it. Experiences: Many years ago an acquaintance was thinking of expanding his web design business. He was unable to commit to hiring more people and a larger business space. He decided to buy a gigantic and stunningly beautiful citrine. Within a year his business more than doubled. His business over the years continued to expand and he attributes this turn in fortune to his citrine. I saw his citrine and it was worth the thousands of dollars he spent. In our classes we observe students that gravitate to the energy and beauty of citrine. The energy of citrine has a definite effect on certain people. I have also seen where citrine changed family dynamics as it removed negative energy and instilled a sense of optimism. It also instilled a sense of honesty that helped the family deal with their issues. We have seen many people who have changed their life through the power of citrine and other crystals. Citrine, amethyst and all crystals create subtle and sometimes dramatic altered states of consciousness. These effects help one to change their circumstance and direction. The most amazing experience was with the citrine pictured on page 1. We happened to take a photo of visiting family members and the citrine is on an outdoor wooden table. The shape of the citrine is tapered and if it moved, it could only 2
circle harmlessly around the table. Kathy's three year old nephew was playing about five feet from the table when suddenly the citrine was bouncing on the concrete slab three feet away from me and seven feet from the closest family member, Kathy's baby nephew Noah. I was stunned and concerned for the crystal. It chipped the point on both ends. I asked why this happened and the answer I received was incredible. The simplest way I can say this is the citrine took a hit for Noah. It neutralized a danger, tendency or some karma for this beautiful smiling child. The citrine somehow moved off the table and four of us only saw it bouncing off the concrete. I would love to know how it moved off the table with nobody near it or touching the table. This was similar to one of my experiences with a celestite crystal which I will save for that newsletter. Citrine is incredible. Recommended Uses: Citrine is ideal for use in bodywork sessions because it promotes mental clarity and self-awareness as it gently removes fear. Citrine calms and soothes as it gently heals. It stimulates the body and the mind as it creates a sense of optimism. We find citrine instills a sense of light-heartedness and joy. Citrine placed on the sacral and solar plexus areas is especially powerful. If there are digestive issues, place it on the stomach. Citrine placed anywhere on the body is effective and always most effective when two or multiples of two crystals are used. Essential Oils: Essential oils are powerful, many require dilution, some are photosensitive, and there are possible contraindications. A listing of these issues can be found at www.kalasgems.com/safety.html. Essential oils that work well with citrine to promote mental clarity and self-awareness, fortify the will, as it removes fear it calms and soothes, it create a sense of optimism as well as to physically and mentally stimulate include: Angelica, anise, basil, bergamot, black pepper, cajeput, cardamon, cedar (Canadian and Western red), cedar leaf (thuja), cedarwood, celery seed, chamomile (German and Roman), cistus, cinnamon bark, clary sage, clove, coriander, cumin, cypress, davana, dill, elemi, Eucalyptus blue, Eucalyptus dives, Eucalyptus globulus, Eucalyptus polybractea, Eucalyptus radiata, Eucalyptus staigeriana, fennel, fir (all), fleabane, frankincense, galbanum, geranium, ginger, goldenrod, grapefruit, hyssop, jasmine, juniper, lavendin, lavender, ledum, lemon, lemongrass, lime, limette, mandarin, marjoram, Melaleuca ericifolia, melissa, mountain savory, mugwort, myrrh, myrtle (lemon), neroli, nutmeg, onycha, orange, palmarosa, Palo santo, patchouli, peppermint, petitgrain, pine (all), rose, rosemary camphor, rosewood, sage lavender, sandalwood, spearmint, spikenard, spruce (all), tamanu, tangerine, tansy (all), tarragon, thyme (all), valerian, vitex, vetiver, wintergreen, yarrow, and Ylang ylang 3
Meditations: Kathy unknowingly picked up three pieces of cut citrine to hold in her meditation. When she laid down she put one in each hand and she was guided to put the other on her heart. As she placed the piece on her heart it completed a circuit and the piece of citrine felt as if it melted into her body. Kathy found herself living through the citrine connection with everything. (Twice I have had stones melt into my palm and these stones become an important part of you.) Kathy experienced no visions or traveling outside of the body. Her connection to the world is much more amazing and interesting as the energy flows between you and everything. You have an understanding and knowingness off everything in the crystalline connection. Near the end of the meditation Kathy encased me in a protective citrine envelope to help me deal with the day. (My brother and I were moving my mother into an extended care facility. Thankfully there were no issues during or after the move.) I find citrine is amazing as an aid to profound meditations. I see citrine as a window into the light. I meditated a second time to see if there was any change from my first meditative experience. Normally when I hold a crystal in each hand it begins with me feeling the energy in the palms and it slowly or quickly spreads throughout my body. Both times with a cut natural citrine in each hand I was immediately surrounded with an envelope of energy. In each meditation, there was a profound stillness in the body, mind and with my energy. I was frozen in position and watching what was like a movie. In the first meditation I was seeing people and events that had a molding and shaping influence in my life. It was an hour movie of gratitude and tears of joy for each of these people and the events. The second meditation was even more impressive. Again I was frozen and merely watching and this time I was in an amazing place with amazing people. We were using our extrasensory gifts and sharing the experiences. When I told Kathy about it, she asked if I was going to write the details and I said it is too personal to share. Suffice it to say it was beyond amazing for me. To give you an idea of how incredible our meditations were, when we finished the meditation and became conscious, we both said at the same time I love citrine. Miscellaneous: Beautiful natural citrine is somewhat rare and at times a challenge to find. The best natural citrine in our experience is from Madagascar. Citrine is one of the birthstones for November. Citrine is a talisman to increase strength and mental skills. Citrine was carried to protect one from the venom of poisonous snakes as well as to protect one from evil thoughts. Citrine is said to vibrate to the number 6. Citrine is anniversary gemstone for the 13 th and 17 th year of marriage. Citrine was used to treat depression. 4
Citrine was associated with the planet Mercury. Citrine is said to be more effective on the sacral chakra of the body. Citrine is an alternate zodiac stone for the astrological sign of Scorpio. Historically citrine was used to treat depression and was used eliminate self destructive behaviors. It aids digestion as it detoxifies the body. It was used to heal the heart, kidneys and liver. It is said to be helpful for diabetes because it promotes the circulation of blood. It was also used to diminish growths, improve vision, activate the thymus gland and balance the thyroid gland. It has also been used in elixirs. Citrine is said to be useful in activities related to thought transference. It is said to facilitate the transfer of information, emotions and thoughts between people regardless of distance. Citrine with its yellowish-orange and yellow color is ideal for the second and third chakras. Friends had a woodland cottage that was destroyed by the fires in San Diego. They had a lot of amethyst in the cottage that became citrine in the intense heat. Disclaimer: The information in this paper regarding the physical and metaphysical properties of crystals is intuitively derived. It is in no way intended to diagnose or treat any form of medical, physical, emotional, mental, psychological, spiritual or other issues. Readers are advised to view this material as speculative in nature. We recommend you determine through personal experience the power of crystals. 5