Bestselling author Barbara Walker debunks the tall tales surrounding crystal mysticism and offers instead an intelligent alternative that includes a complete guide to minerals and their histories.

Because of her profound admiration for the beauty and mystery of crystals, Barbara Walker reveals in this two-part examination what crystals truly are, what they can-and cannot do, and what they have meant to cultures down through the ages.

She exposes the crystal mystics' grotesque ignorance of the very subject of which they claim expertise and presents detailed discussions on crystal 'vibrations,' healing, and energies. She points with humor and insight to the incomprehensible 'word salad' crystal mystics use to explain their notions.

Then, featuring an illustrated A toZ listing of all the minerals used in esoteric studies, Walker presents the true history, mythology, and attributes of each stone. This invaluable reference is for anyone interested in the facts and fiction of crystal mysticism.

Barbara G. Walker, author of The Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets, The Woman's Dictionary of Symbols and Sacred Objects, and many other books, is a member of the Morris Museum Mineralogical Society and the Trailside Mineral Club of the New Jersey Earth Science Association.

Cover design by Bruce Kortebein Design Office
Illustration by Heather Preston

Contents
Acknowledgments
Part One A survey of crystal mythology and culture
Introduciton
For the lvoe of stoens
What is a crystal?
The new age
The real history of Atlantis
Healing
Crystal meditation
The Biblical gems
Part Two The minerals
Introduction
The Mohs hardness scale
Adamite
Agate
Alexandrite
Amazonite
Ambe
Amthyst
Apatite
Apophyllite
Aquamarine
Aragonite
Asbestos
Atacamite
Aventurine
Azuritee
Barite
Benitoite
Beryl
Bloodstone
Brazilianite
Calcite
Camelian
Celestite
Cerussite
Chabazite
Chalcanthite
Chalcedony
Charoite
Chiastolite
Chrysoberyl
Chrysocolla
Chrysoprase
Cinnabar
Citrine
Coal
Copper
Coprolite
Coral
Crocoite
Cubic Zirconia
Danburite
Datolite
Desert Rose
Diamond
Diopside
Dioptase
Dolomite
Emerald
Enhydros
Enstatite
Epidote
Fire Agate
Fire Opal
Fluorite
Galena
Garnet
Geode
Gold
Goldstone
Haine
Hematite
Hemimorphite
Herkimer Diamond
Heulandite
Hexagonite
Hiddente
Ice
Iceland Spar
Iron
Ivory
Jacinth
Jade
Jasper
Jet
Kaemmererite
Kunzite
Kutnohorite
Labradorite
Lapis Lazuli
Lead
Lepidolite
Lodestone
Malachite
Marble
Mercury
Meteorite
Mica
Moldavite
Moonstone
Obsidian
Onyx
Opal
Orpiment
Paste
Pearl
Peridot
Petrified Wood
Prehnite
Pumice
Pyrite
Quartz
Rhodochrosite
Thodonite
Rose Quartz
Ruby
Rutile
Sapphire
Sard
Sardonyx
Scapolite
Selenite
Shattuckite
Siderite
Silver
Smithsonite
Smoky Quartz
Sodalite
Sphalerite
Spinel
Staurolite
Stibnite
Stichtite
Stibite
Sugilite
Sulfur
Tanzanite
Tektite
thulite
Tigereye
Tin
Topaz
Tourmaline
Turquoise
Ulexite
Vanadinite
Variscite
Wavellite
Willemite
Witherite
Wulfenite
Zincite
Zircon
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Bibliography
Index