Gemtone 101: 01 - Herkimer Diamonds
One thing I have learned over the years is that there are many reasons why people wear jewelry. Feeling beautiful and confident are among the top. However, meaning and significance reign as the top driving motivation to wear jewelry. While both of these terms can have broad meaning ranging anywhere from a reminder of a special vacation or occasion to an heirloom passed down from generations, some reasons are more mystical in nature.
Wearing certain stones for personal empowerment has been practiced for centuries. The fact that these stones and minerals come from the earth that is very much alive lends a great deal of credibility to this idea. Being made from energy it only makes sense that they would also give energy.
Herkimer diamonds are particularly strong energy givers. They are not actually diamonds but double-terminated quartz, known for its exceptional clarity. They're called "diamonds" not only because of their clarity, but also because when they are found, they look like someone faceted them. Herkimers are naturally "faceted" with double termination points of 18 total facets, six on each point and six around the center. The geologic history of these beauties began 495 million years ago. Talk about some major history contained in each crystal. No wonder their vibrations are so strong.
Here are some common uses and meanings according to Crystal Vaults, an authority on stones and their metaphysical properties. For more in depth information regarding Herkimer Diamonds or other stones I highly recommend that you pay them a visit.
Herkimer diamonds are the most powerful of all quartz crystals and are exceptionally healing. Being doubly terminated, they have the ability to not only transmit their own energies, but to receive, amplify and focus spiritual energy. Harder than all other quartz crystals they have strength and durability to handle difficult challenges beyond the scope of other quartz crystals.
Now that is adornment with intention. After all, whether we are empowered by a stone's energy or the confidence of looking good it never hurts to have that come in the form of piece of jewelry that we feel deeply connected to.