Dzi beads are generally not the type of beads you’ll be using in a beading class. You’ll rarely see them mixed with conventional beads, such as plastic or metal beads. Dzi beads are actually patterned beads mainly of cylindrical or tabular shape, which play an important role in Tibetan culture. While their true origins are unknown, many believe that they come from the hands of the gods – thus lending a mystical feel to the primarily agate beads.

Most dzi beads come in shades of red and brown, though the etched patterns can come in a myriad of other colours. They also come in various sizes and forms, though they are more often classified by the pattern etched on their surfaces. But whether we are talking about three-eyed long-type beads or tiger stripe totem dzi beads, bear in mind that different patterns lend to different properties.

In any case, it must be noted that the prices of authentic dzi beads have risen dramatically in the past decade, with higher quality beads fetching thousands of dollars. This, of course, has resulted in fakes flooding the market, whether made of natural agate or worse still, plain glass. Generally, these beads are identifiable by their “newness”, though expert forgers can still fool the general buyer with well-placed smudges, scratches and chips.

Overall, it must be said that not very much is known about dzi beads, with experts still attempting to come up with rational descriptions of their talismanic properties. But what is known can already fill multiple books, so let me continue with this topic in another post. I’ll most likely be addressing some of the more common types of dzi beads available.

The designers involved are J.J. Valaya, Tarun Tahiliani, Manish Arora, Shantanu Goenka, Malini Ramani, Kavita Bhartia, Rina Dhaka, Aparna Chandra and Jattinn Kocchar.

India Fashion Week 2006 started on the 5th of April, and is set to end on the 9th.

[News via The Times of India]

Beading not only provides its practitioners the joy and satisfaction of creating something truly unique, but it also serves as an avenue for women to socialize. Contrary to popular belief, beading is often done in groups, or at least pairs. There are even beading parties, where tens of women congregate to bead, and bead. As beading utilizes only your hands (and your brains), the socializing can happen while you’re beading with your group mates.

And another advantage of beading is that it is relatively inexpensive. You will not need any expensive machinery or tools, nor will you need to spend thousands of dollars to learn how to do it. Beading can be self-taught, and most often, that’s how most people learn beading. Whether over the Internet, or through books in the local library, there is never a shortage of learning materials.

So, if you happen to have tons of unproductively used spare time, why not start beading? After all, you could even sell your creations. How many hobbies can provide satisfaction, fun, and the opportunity to make money?

Remember when I wrote earlier about how everything these days seem to contain crystals? Well, no matter even if you have forgottten because we have another excellent example right here: Super Sexy Custom Couture T-Shirts.

These "...urban-esque glam girly tees and tanks..." actually contain hand set Swarovski crystals. Even with the crystals though, it seems that these t-shirts can be machine-washed as they "...retain their appearance after several washes." Now, what "several washes" actually means is unclear.

But at least, the tees look pretty good.

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.

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.

An excerpt:

IN an era of more -- more people, more color, more noise, more graphics -- you gotta admit, it's pretty hard for any individual to stand out from the crowd and the raucous backdrop of urban life.

There's nothing like a little sparkle to catch the eye and in contemporary thinking if a little is good, a lot is better.

So it's no wonder bling is big. Swarovski crystals or their imitations now grace products from jeans to handbags to T-shirts. And while the mother of crystal-encrusted minaudieres, Judith Leiber, creates charming and dazzling masterpieces that sell for $1,000 and up, artistic souls such as Deidre Garland of Sachi Designs have found a new calling in putting a shine on such everyday, tote-able totems as Razrs and iPods.

What do you think? Personally, I feel this level of "crystalization" is a bit much, both on the eye and on many pockets. But it is a striking approach to portray personal preferences and financial means. This "crystalization" also makes the items you crystalize far more valuable, and therefore, enhancing its timelessness. After all, will you dispose of your crystal-enhanced handphone for a more technologically advanced model?.

But more importantly, crystal companies will probably be looking at this as a growth market for the future. If crystalized consumer products actually manage to build a strong demand base, you can be sure that the big boys will join the fray.

Pearls have always been popular, especially among women. They served as key components to almost all of the most valuable jewelry in the past, from the crowns of kings to the necklaces of nobles. In fact, it would be an understatement to say that they are still popular today, with synthetic pearls created to help meet the heavy demand for natural pearls - albeit only as imperfect substitutes.

The use of pearls is diverse. As medicine, many believed that pearls helped ease digestive problems, reduce fevers, heal insomnia, and cure poisonings. Even today, low grade pearls are ground finely into powder to be used to prepare high quality pharmaceutical calcium.

Ecological changes (as well as the over-demand for pearls) at the end of the 12th century, disrupted the supply of pearls. It is at this time that the Chinese attempted to produce artificial pearls. At the threshold of the 20th century, the Japanese managed to produce quality cultured pearls. To date, the Japanese are considered the master growers of cultured pearls.

But whether we are talking about cultured or natural pearls, few understand the rich symbolism pearls have as a result of their origins. Almost all pearls originate from fresh water sources - such as rivers, lakes or seas. Given that water, whether a fresh water source or a bath or shower, is calming, a pearl therefore provides the same tranquility. Pearls help to bring peace and reduces over-sensitivity. It is also known as the stone of honesty - ensuring that truth is present in many situations.

Overall, pearls are clearly powerful jewels - whether aesthetically or practically. While there are no proven tangible rewards for owning a pearl, few would say no to a pearl - if they could afford it that is. The best of pearls are now priced exorbitantly, preventing all but the most wealthy from owning them. Most now have to satisfy themselves with either medium grade natural pearls, or artificial cultured pearls.

1. Base metal beads
   These beads are made of non-precious metals such as bronze, copper, aluminium and nickel. Like in conventional jewelry, these metals beads are cheap replacements for more expensive ones.
   
   
2. Precious metal beads
   Precious metal beads are mostly made of pure gold. These gold beads can come in two forms, 24K gold (100% gold, but is soft and very expensive) or 14K gold (58.3% gold, and is relatively stronger and less expensive). These type of beads are much less used compared to the rest due to the price and relative softness.
   
   
3. Plated beads
   Plated beads refer to beads that are created through electroplating. Again, this concept is similar to conventional jewelry, where more expensive metals - such as gold and silver - are layered over cheaper base metals such as copper. Plated beads are relatively cheap, but the plating can degrade over time.
   
   
4. Filled beads
   Generally refers to gold-filled beads. The name "gold-filled beads" is actually a misnomer, given that gold-filled beads are not filled with gold. Rather, the gold is on the outside, while a base metal is inside. The resulting bead not only looks like gold, but is very durable.
   
   
5. Sterling silver beads
   These beads are a mix of silver and a stronger metal (such as copper). Usually the mix is 92.5% silver and 7.5% of the stronger metal. One reason why sterling silver beads exist is the fact that pure silver is too soft a metal. Moreover, while sterling beads tarnish easily, they have the advantage of being less prone to triggering allergic reactions compared to other non-pure metal jewelry.
   
   
6. Vermeil
   A special type of plated bead, where sterling silver is electroplated with gold.
   
   

Problems arise when we say that pendulums can be used for scrying. Many people just go into rejection mode when we try to explain the history and process of scrying. I wouldn't blame them given the reputation of scrying as an arcane art. While some say that Nostradamus - the famous (or rather, infamous) prophet - used basin scrying (through a pendulum) to produce his prophetic verses, most applications of scrying are far less mysterious. All scrying usually means is the use of pendulums to provide answers to simple questions, as well as for diagnosis purposes (in the case of physical problems).

On to the scrying itself, it is important that you are comfortable and calm when you are working with a pendulum, no matter which scrying method you use. There are actually several methods of scrying. But almost all of the scrying methods will involve asking the pendulum a question, and waiting for a response. Pendulums usually respond by moving in a specific manner (e.g. moving back and forth, circular movement, tapping against a container, etc.).

Now, any type of pendulum can be used for the purpose of scrying, but most people seem to prefer quartz crystals. In most cases, quartz pendulums are ideal choices, but different types of pendulums must be used when scrying is done with the intent to locate physical problems. This is because a quartz pendulum can easily absorb the energy of the patient - rendering the pendulum detrimental to the patient's health.

So, if you have no negative preconceptions against crystal scrying (or have been rid of it due to this article), get ready for my next post on a couple of crystal scrying methods.

One legendary function of these crystals is as a storage device, not unlike the computers we use today. These crystals, known as Teacher Crystals or Record Keepers, were capable of holding important information, but high sensitivity and awareness is required to access and implant such records into the crystals.

Over the many years that have passed since our ancestors understood and used the power of crystals, much has been forgotten. Only recently (or relatively recently), we have seen the New Age movement taking hold. Knowledge and awareness of crystals and their power have thus been resurfacing.

Crystals are said to radiate high frequency vibrations to all creations, whether plans, animals, humans or our very environment. Crystals can not only aid us in our daily life - with stimulation of perception, intelligence, and emotion as merely one of the many powers of crystals - but they can also nurture plants by energizing the soil and water around them.

With that said, it is high time we acknowledge the latent abilities of crystals and begin to take crystal power seriously. Yes, crystal power may not be something tangible like the electricity that powers our homes, but there is no harm learning of the power of crystals and all to gain. There will always be sceptics when it comes to the new or supernatural. If sceptics were allowed to rule, subjects we are proud of today, like physics, biology and astrology, would still be stuck in the stone age.