Quartz, Clear

History of Clear Quartz

The word Quartz dates back to the 16th century and is an old German mining term. Prior to that, Quartz was more often called by its Greek name, krystallos, meaning “clear ice”. For centuries, Quartz was believed to be ice which had petrified and therefore remained in a permanent solid state. This belief persisted well into the European medieval period.

A variety of cultures, scattered across the globe, linked Clear Quartz with rain. Both the Irish and Mayan are known to have buried Clear Quartz crystals in their fields hoping to attract good rainfall and the blessing of a bountiful harvest. More recently, the Ta-ta-thi, an aboriginal tribe in Australia, were documented in the 20th century using Clear Quartz in their rain ritual. The Chief of the tribe would break a piece of Quartz into two pieces and throw the smaller part into the sky. The remaining piece was wrapped in feathers, soaked in water and buried. If performed correctly, it was said to consistently bring down the rains.

Quartz has also been used in human burials since time immortal. It was especially common among the Celtic peoples of the British Isles and Native Americans in the American Southwest. According to various legends, a piece of Quartz serves to “light the way” in the after-life, to help the dead communicate, or may encourage the souls of the departed to be judged as “pure” when facing eternal judgement.

The earliest literary reference to Clear Quartz is found in the Rigveda, a Hindu sacred text. Written between 1500-1200 BCE, the Rigveda includes many origin stories as well as hymns and prayers. One such story describes how Indra, the leader of the gods, liberated the holy rivers. According to the Rigveda, long ago in the time of the gods, the demon stone serpent (or cave), Vala, was killed and dismembered by Indra. Vala’s body was then scattered across the world. Each piece of his body turned into a different type of gemstone. The Vedic texts say the god’s semen was transformed into Clear Quartz. The texts later state that wearing Clear Quartz set in gold will bring good fortune, protection, and extraordinary sexual powers!

Clear Quartz was also mentioned in an early lapidary written by the Greek priest Onomacritis (530-480BCE), founder of the Hellenic mysteries. He said, “Who so goes in the temple with this in his hand may be quite sure of having his prayers granted, as the gods cannot withstand its power.” Clear Quartz was used along with flint to start fires, but Onomacritis explained that “when this stone is laid upon dry wood, so that the sun’s rays may shine upon it, there will soon be smoke, then fire, then bright flames.” These bright flames were known as “Holy Fire” and were the most desirable way to burn offerings to the gods.

In the first century CE, the mystic Apollinus of Tyana (c.15-100) claimed to use Quartz to make himself invisible. According to legend, the mystic disappeared and reappeared in front of the Roman Emperor Caesar Domitian and then repeated the exercise at the foot of Mount Vesuvius. Two millennia later, in 1935 a Hungarian scientist, Herr Stephen Pribill, partially recreated Apolliunus’ feat. Using mercury lamps and high voltage electricity passing through Quartz, he proved it was possible to make small items invisible to the naked eye.

Photos: Clear Quartz, Vala