Cat's Eyes - Dzi Beads - Crystals

Nothing much really, just a couple of variants of cat's eyes - with copyright-free (a rarity: possibly rarer than the cats eyes themselves, really) pictures that I found over at Cochise College. But before we go to the variants, let us start with a few basics regarding cat's eyes.

True cat's eyes are varieties of chrysoberyl, and are valuable gemstones. It's (chrysoberyl's) chemical composition is BeAl₂O_{4 (i.e.} Beryllium Aluminium Oxide). They can come in a range of colours between yellow, green and brown.

A large part of a cat's eye's value is judged from its richness of colour, sharpness and clarity - especially that of its inside band. For example, a cat's eye with a sharp, straight and brilliant inside band is considered more valuable than one with a fuzzy inside band.

Now, back to our two variants: 

Cat's Eye: Apatite Cabochons-A

(Source: R.Weller/Cochise College)

Cat's Eye: Chrysoberyl Cabochons

(Source: R.Weller/Cochise College)

Remember, chrysoberyl cat's eyes are the true cat's eyes. Apatite may appear to be similar to chrysoberyl, but it is actually a softer and less valuable stone. Other chrysoberyl cat's eye substitutes include quartz and glass.

Posted by at 12:03 AM | Permalink

(Source: Healing Waters)

Before we go to the more subjective (and interesting) portion of this feature, let me start with some basic facts on moldovite, including color, origin and composition.

Color: Bottle-Green
Origin: Czechoslovakia
Chemical Composition: SiO₂ + Al, Ca, Fe, K, and Na

On the physical side, moldavite is generally rough and amorphous - with small "humps". Moldavite is believed to be formed when rock vapours condense after meteorite impact. Some even specifically place modalvite's origins to the Moldau Valley of Czechoslovakia, where a meteorite shower fell many millions of years ago. Thus the name moldavite. Moreover, as a result of these beliefs, moldavite is also known as a glass meteor. Other names for moldavite include water chrysolite and Bouteille stone.

Until recently (perhaps when ‘Moldavite, Starborn Stone’ by Bob Simmons and Kathy Warner was published in 1986), it was a relatively obscure stone - even to crystal workers. But it's power was bound to astound sooner or later. In fact, it is such a powerful New Age stone that some believe that first-timers should not hold it for too long.

Spiritually, moldavite helps in channelling and spiritual development. The high energy the stone is said to contain may also be able to clear blockages in each of the chakras. Sometimes, people admit to feeling heat from the stone due to its high energy level. On a more practical side, moldavite can help you to clear real "blockages", such as experiences and habits that are deterring your personal development.

But on a more fantastic side (that you could choose to believe if you wanted to), moldavite is said to stimulate communication and energy transfer between humans and extra-terrestials. This belief most likely spawned from moldavite's "meteorite impact" origins.

In any case, whether or not you choose to believe its practical, metaphysical, or extra-terrestial benefits, moldavite can only help you in your crystal working and your daily life. So, make sure you have at least one piece of moldavite in your collection to harness these benefits.

Posted by at 9:22 PM | Permalink