"People are finding their micro-chip lives unsatisfying.

Something - magic - is missing."

Scott Cunningham, 1988.

Since the beginning of human civilisation, we have always had a fascination with crystals. Archeologists have uncovered evidence that the people of the Upper Paleolithic Period (25,000 - 12,000 BCE) were already decorating themselves with stones, and particularly valued amber.

In ancient Mesopotamia people wore beads of carnelian and crystal quartz, while the Ancient Egyptians considered Lapis, Jasper, Obsidian, Jade and Amazonite, amongst others, to be highly prized. The mummy of Tutenkhamen was shown to have been adorned with some 143 pieces of jewellery alone, and their purpose was not just one of decoration but also of protection. Amulets would be placed with the Mummy to protect it on its journey to the afterlife.    

Later on, the Greeks began to collect information about the medicinal qualities of crystals, and drew much information from Arabic texts. Pliny the Elder compiled one text on the healing properties of gemstones, before his death during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.

This information gradually made its way across Europe, so that Medieval Europeans believed in wearing gemstone amulets for their medicinal qualities. Marco Polo wrote about some of these healing qualities in the 13th Century.

In the twentieth Century, gemstones have had somewhat of a revival with the coming of new age philosophies and people's need to explore more than just the obvious aspects of life. People are now taking more of an interest in the magical world than they have for many years, and the wearing of crystals for their protective or healing properties is now common. It is from this angle that my own interest in gemstones first developed. For not only are they beautiful, but they are also magical!