Other Names: Abalone Shell, Oyster Shell, Ear-shells, Sea-ears and Venus's-ears
Color: Multi-color
Appearance: Abalone is a beautiful shell showing a play of iridescent colors across a polished surface. Shells are the outer housing (exoskeleton) of sea-creatures, and are organic gemstones which have been used in jewelry making and religious ceremonies for countless ages. Abalone has been grazing on algae in the selected waters of our planet for over 80 million years.
Pronunciation: Ab-ah-lone-ee
Mineral Information: These shells are comprised of multi-layered Mother of Pearl nacre, chemically similar to the Oyster. Color bands found in the shells are a direct result of diet and genetic factor, and are made possible by several minute layers of aragonite. The outer layer is protected by a covering called Peristrum, which is a translucent shellac-like overlay.
Transparency: Opaque
Hardness: 3.5-4
Class: Organic
Rarity: Common
Source: Worldwide
Chakra: Primary: Solar Plexus. Secondary: Heart, Throat.
Abalone is associated with all of the Chakra energies. In particular, it seems to work the best on the Solar Plexus Chakra, stimulating that gut feeling. It is also especially good for the Heart Chakra, as it gently clears the heart of fear, sorrow and negative emotions. Abalone allows your intuitive resources to stimulate psychic development and intuition through the Third Eye Chakra.
Zodiac: Cancer, All
Other Correspondences:
Planets: Moon, Venus, Yemaya
Deities: Aphrodite, Venus
Element: Water
Vibrates to Number: 7
Health Aid: Abalone Shells strengthens the immune system, energize the body and aid in the assimilation of proteins. Use abalone shell as a calming influence for menstrual problems. Abalone benefits the heart and helps digestion. It strengthens muscular tissue, especially the heart and is also a strong anti-carcinogenic. It is often used as a container for spirit offerings or smudging. It aligns the etheric body and balances the feminine qualities. It is said to bestow tranquility, abundance and spirit. They are especially useful to counterbalance overly dynamic energies due to their watery nature. Abalone has been used for arthritis and other joint disorders, muscle problems, the heart, and digestion. Mystical lore suggests that abalone is helpful for arthritis and other joint disorders, muscle problems, the heart, and digestion.
Emotional & Spiritual Aid: Invigorating. Associated with healing, serenity, calmness, nobility, and honesty. Good for calming people and making them less afraid, allowing them to feel more serene and balanced. Good for calming people who are easily agitated or constantly on edge. The pastel rainbow colors of the Abalone shell enhance feelings of peace, beauty, compassion and love. Work with the Abalone shell when you are facing tough emotional issues. Abalone will soothe the nerves and encourage a calm demeanor. Abalone Shell helps to gently open our psychic and intuitive connections. Abalone Shell is an excellent companion when needing guidance in relationships. It enhances the four C's--communication, cooperation, commitment and compromise, which lead to harmony and balance. Abalone shell enhances expression, in both word and deed. It allows us to understand both sides of any issue by placing us in the other persons "shoes". The Abalone shell has been tossed and turned in the ebb and flow of the ocean for many years. Through this process, its true beauty shines through. The Abalone shell is a perfect gift for those who have survived traumatic experiences, to let them know that while they may have been tossed and turned themselves, in the end, their true beauty shines for all to see. A very popular use for abalone is for empowering love spells and for love talismans. Many beginners call it a “love amulet”, but amulets repel, while talismans attract. That’s why amulets are typically for protection. If you want to attract love, then you want a love talisman, not a love amulet. Abalone amulets protect the witch from negative energy. Abalone talismans attract creativity to the witch. A magick amulet protects from some kind of energy, while a magick talisman draws in some kind of energy. A witch can magickally charge the same abalone as both an amulet and a talisman. The negative ions created by the salt water's crashing waves brings healing energy with the abalone shell. These shells are associated with healing, serenity, calmness, nobility, and honesty. Abalone is also reported to stimulate psychic development and intuition, and promote imagination in a healthy way. Abalone is purported to be especially useful for handling and calming emotional situations, and be very soothing to the emotions. Having abalone nearby when working through an emotional situation with someone is said to be beneficial, and promotes cooperation.
Folklore: A disc of abalone shell is worn on the forehead of Apache girls as they greet the sun in the morning of their initiation into womanhood. Cancer and June Birthstone. Nicknamed the sea ears, the Abalone's flattened, oval shape with iridescent interior was used by the Native Northwest American Indians as a natural vessel for cleansing, offerings and prayers. In ancient times, royalty decorated their robes and turbans with them, Stings of Abalone shell jewelry were used by the women. During the era of barter and trade, the Abalone was often used as "coin of the realm". In many parts of the world, at archeological digs, artifacts have been found made from these shells. Today, many forms of jewelry, from formal to baroque, are designed with the unique characteristics and beauty of the Abalone utilized to the fullest. The Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite, sometimes rode the ocean waves on a giant abalone shell. Abalone has been used by Kemetic (ancient Egyptian), Phoenician, Greek, Roman, Italian (Stregha), Celtic (Druidic and Faerie), French, Spanish, Portuguese, Gypsy, Norse, Germanic, British, Scottish, African, Polynesian, Japanese, Chinese, Asian Indian, and Native American peoples.
Other Notes: Abalone can be cleansed and discharged of negative energy every month by running it under warm water or placing it in a bowl of water and adding a teaspoon of sea salt. Charge abalone by the light of the sun and/or full moon for 24-48 hours.
Decided to finally let my intuition out of the box to play. Funny- I didn't realize how much I missed it. Along with my ex trying so hard to "discourage" it (of course now that I know he was cheating for so long it makes perfect sense), I also think that I was trying to tamp it down unconsciously as well. There were too many signs that my conscious mind couldn't seem to piece together. I think I didn't want to have to piece them together, in the hopes that I was really, really wrong. Turns out I wasn't.
I used to depend so much on my instincts, those gut feelings that just seemed to lead me along. I think my blocking them out is part of the reason I have been getting stuck with my writing lately. I remembered today about a meeting with my school counselor in high school. She was asking me about my parents' divorce, I think, and she asked me how I get away from all the stress. I told her I rode my horse, I read, and I wrote stories. Writing stories was my favorite way, because I could just completely escape. She was concerned with that answer, and probed further. I explained to her that when I wrote my stories, I just... disappeared into it. I didn't have to think, I didn't have to work at it, the words just flowed into my head, and it was just my job to get them down on paper. I know that doesn't seem to make much sense, but that's really how it works. Unfortunately, lately, as in the last however many years, that hasn't worked so well for me.
I think that is going to change very soon. Over the last few years, I've had snatches of feelings here and there, and sometimes I've trusted them. Usually I just ignored them because really, is it Spirit talking to me, or is just my desires rising to the surface? I had learned to doubt myself, and unlearning something is always more difficult than learning. But I'm working on it. In the past two weeks or so the gates have opened further and further.
Just within the last week alone, I decided for no reason to make a much larger lunch than usual (roasted root veggies with onions and garlic), and just before it came out of the oven, my cousin stopped by to visit, and there was EXACTLY enough food for the two of us. Then the next day I made dinner (pork roast with veggies and pasta) and for some strange reason I made a HUGE portion when I've been trying to cut down my portions to reduce leftovers (granted I love me some leftovers but still...), and two friends (one of who is a BIG eater) stopped by and T-man invited them to dinner. There was plenty for all.
A few nights later the same thing happened, and again I had made enough dinner without planning it consciously. Saturday I went on a frenzy of house cleaning. I've been letting things go, I think a little depressed and stressed out by some things going on in my life. Saturday I even got into the tub and scrubbed the walls. Ew. But my home almost sparkled like it hasn't in a long time. I had four unexpected guests that day, and three of their children along too. Guess it was "Visit Gryph Day." Fortunately, my place was pretty cleaned up. Or at least as cleaned up as I can catch up in one day.
There have been plenty of other instances. I get a little frustrated at having to explain these feelings sometimes, but fortunately some people do get it, so I have to fall back on. I know I'm not crazy- and my friends even used to call me to see what I felt about things all of the time. They trusted my intuition too.
I guess it's time for me to trust me a little more again.
Going through my stone collection at the moment to pull some nice pieces to send home with some students in a Witchcraft basics class that I'm helping with on Thursday night. I think I have a nice enough selection. I am doing something a little different than last time, since last time took several hours of poring over goodies LOL!!! I guess I have "too many" rocks... Heh heh heh... Even though my collection isn't even CLOSE to the size it used to be!
I've always had an affinity to stones. I don't know why; honestly I've never questioned it before. I had to train myself long ago not to just pick up and pocket any rock that screamed at me to take them home. Oh boy- especially with all my hiking! There's an amazing beach on Whidbey Island- Ebey's Landing- that's a pebble beach, and as it is I still bring home at least a handful every trip. :blush: I can't help it LOL!
At least it's now paying off! Haha!!
I just finished watching a beautiful movie. It was titled "Nell," and it was about a woman who had never been exposed to our so-called society. It broke my heart at the same time that it inspired me. Towards the end, Nell explains to the world that we know "such big things," but that we don't really see the little things. And as a general rule, she is completely right. To quote the movie, "You have big things. You know big things. But you don't look into each other's eyes. And you're hungry for quietness." How true is that?
Right after finishing my movie, I came across an amazing quote... "Rainbows and butterflies are themselves beautiful and highly symbolic, but they are also representative of all the small miracles of our life - the little things that are so easy to overlook, yet so awe inspiring when we take a moment to notice and to pay attention. Give thanks for the rainbows, for the butterflies, for all God's creatures - large and small, for the the bright blue sky and the soft fog and the gentle rain, for the tree veiled in the season's first frost, for the baby's laugh, for the touch of a hand and the whispered "I love you." ~Jonathon Lockwood Huie
I sometimes get teased when I get distracted by a hawk winging its way above me, or the way water trickles over a rock, or the sound of a bird chiming it's happiness. When I stop to photograph a snail, or a patch of mushrooms, or the way the moss drapes across a branch. Those are my rainbows and butterflies.
How simple, and yet how true... We know big things, we have big things, but we certainly don't look into each other's eyes. Do you ever seek out the quietness? Do you ever turn off the TV, turn off the phone- and I mean OFF, not just on silent, turn off the video games and the computer and the radio, and just be? I hike. It's my way of escaping the world. One of the most amazing moments I can remember this last year was sitting before a waterfall, just me and my dog, and just being. I don't know how much time had passed, it could have been hours or just a few minutes. I just know one thing... it was still. In spite of the water pouring over the cliff above me, and the river churning below me... In spite of the many hikers I am certain were up on the cliff behind me... For that span of time, I was alone, just me and my dog. I closed my eyes and felt the spray on my face... and just was.
I sometimes get these strange overwhelming urges to try to look certain people up. It never goes anywhere, it seems like no matter how hard I am reaching out to these people they are never reaching back. But for some reason the urges stick.
One of those people is the person I look back now and consider a priestess of our little high school pagan group. I've tracked her down on Myspace, and added her as a friend, but that's all that's ever happened. I don't know why I am so drawn to contacting her, but I feel there is a reason. I guess the time just hasn't happened yet. I know for a fact that she harbors some mistaken ill-will towards me (based on an apparent misunderstanding), but still the feelings persist.
Another friend is actually one half of a couple in my mind (not sure if that's still how it is, but well that's how my memory perceives him), and he was my first real goth friend. I can't even remember his last name now all these years later (another high school friend, although we didn't go to school together). His face rises to my inner eye more times than I can count. I worry about him at random moments, and I can't even imagine how I could make any concerted effort to look him up without even a last name, and nothing more than a first name (Jonathon) to go off of. I know where he grew up (strangely enough only a few miles from the place I grew up, although by the time we met I had long ago moved away).
The third person, strangely enough, is a friend who was very important to me during the whole chaos that ensued around me kicking my cheating husband out in 2003. We stayed in touch for awhile, but then things got sour (yet another misunderstanding). He comes to mind on occasion, but lately it's been constant. I recently was going through some things and came across a stuffed teddy bear dressed as a fairy which he had given me. I kicked my husband out on February 3, 2003, and that valentines day my wonderful friends all pitched in to make the day special. Until very recently this stuffed bear sat on a shelf with some other sad and lonely stuffed animals. The wings on the little fairy outfit were tattered and beat up. I cleaned up the bear and passed her on to another needy person. It's just strange that this was literally just the other day, because I met his wife on Saturday. At the full moon ritual. She knows many of the wonderful people I have been practicing with. How strange is that!!!
Anyhow, it's just tripping me out, three people I keep having the strongest urges to reach out to, and sometimes the Lord and Lady just drop them into your lap. I don't have any urge to talk to him or anything like that, and meeting his wife... it all suddenly made sense, and I think that meeting her was my answer. I just can't explain it any better than that.
So I know I've talked a little bit about coincidences before, but sometimes they just smack me upside of the head so hard I just have to stop and take notice.
Two of my friends recently have talked to me about having billy clubs for protection. Two people who have never met each other and probably have nothing in common. All within two days of each other.
Saturday some friends and I had a long discussion about Zombies. Today a separate unrelated friend posted a long post on Facebook about Zombies.
There've been other things too, just too many to count. It just cracks me up sometimes.
