#magnetite
Working on polishing my samples for reflective light microscopy. This sample is a pyroxenite from Hogen Camp Mine in the Hudson Highlands region of New York. The area was once a lead producer of iron ore and magnetite for the east coast.
Post link
LODESTONE
Folk Names: Magnetite, Magnet, Way Stone, Magnetis (ancient Greek), Loadstone, Shadanu Sabitu (ancient Assyrian), Heraclean Stone, Piedra [man (contemporary Spanish)
Energy:Receptive
Planet:Venus
Element:Water
Associated Herbs: Sandalwood, Rose, Yarrow, Lavender
Associated Star: Polaris (the North Star)
Associated Stone:Coral
Associated Metals: Iron, Copper, Silver, Gold
Powers: Power, Healing, Attraction, Friendship, Love, Fidelity, Male Sexual Dysfunction, Will, Protection, Business, Money, Games of Chance
Magical/Ritual Lore:
Legend has it that the ancient Romans had a statue of Venus made of lodestone and an image of Mars fashioned of iron. When the two statues were placed near one another in the temple, Venus attracted Mars.
Tales (never substantiated) also sing the praises of a statue that was permanently suspended in the air through the use of lodestones.
The stone was associated with the hero Hercules in times past and so came to be a symbol of strength and invulnerability.
In contemporary folk magic, the lodestone is thought to be alive. It is placed in a small bowl of water on a Friday to allow it to “drink," then laid in full sunlight to dry. When dry, iron filings are sprinkled on it as "food.”
Though there are variations on this procedure-some keep the stone in a red bag and sprinkle water and iron filings on it once a week-it is a common belief.
Several hundred years ago it was believed that it was dangerous to carry a lodestone during a thunderstorm because it attracted lightning.
A knife rubbed with the stone was not only magnetized, but any wound inflicted with it, however small, was thought to be fatal.
The lodestone was once believed to be stripped of its magnetic as well as magical powers by the mere presence of a diamond or garlic. Giambattista della Porta, in his monumental 1558 work, Natural Magic, said he had disproved such beliefs.
Nevertheless, some still believed this was true. Fortunately, there was an easy way to restore the lodestone’s powers. It was anointed with linseed oil, placed in a goatskin bag and covered with dirt for three days.
Its use to strengthen virility and to cure male sexual dysfunction (impotency) spans the ages. In ancient Assyria it was used in a sexual rite of pure sympathetic magic. The man placed a lodestone in oil and rubbed the resulting “infusion” on his body and penis to ensure satisfactory sexual intercourse. The woman rubbed parzilli, or iron powder, on her body to enhance her attractiveness. Thus prepared, couples three thousand years ago magically (or psychologically) released their inhibitions and shared pleasure.
Comparatively recently, in 16th-century India a king ordered his cooking utensils to be fashioned of lodestone to ensure his continuing virility.
Prostitutes once used lodestones to attract customers, and thieves relied on them to hide from authority.
All this lore has sprung from the lodestone’s natural magnetic quality. It and artificially created magnets share the power of attracting iron. Five hundred years ago this was a magical, miraculous property, and many believed a spirit or demon lived within the lodestone and gave it power.
Though scientific investigation has explained magnetism to a certain extent, the lodestone continues to be used in spell and ritual.
This is especially true in Mexico, where it is sold in botanicas along with candles, incenses, religious medals, snakeskins, oils and various other occult goods. Similar stores are found in many parts of the United States where Spanish-speaking peoples live.
Mexican street vendors who deal in magical supplies also sell lodestones. A few years ago I bought one from a woman who sat on the curb in a Tijuana district unfrequented by turistas.
It is also well known in Hoodoo and other American folk magic systems. Lodestones are sometimes painted green (for use in money spells), red (love), and white (protection). Painting them is not, of course, magically important unless you deem it to be so.
Magical Uses:
The lodestone is a power stone used to strengthen spells. It is added to sachets or herbal amulets, placed on the altar, or worn to increase the magician’s ability to rouse and release energy.
In ceremonial magic of the Middle Ages the lodestone was engraved with the figure of an armored man. This stone was utilized during rituals to empower magic.
The larger the stone, the more inherent power within it. While this is true of all stones, it is especially important with the lodestone, for the greater its size, the stronger its magnetic force.
Lodestone’s basic use in magic is attraction. Because the stone is a natural magnet, it is manipulated in ritual to draw objects or energies to its user. Thus, it can be used in any type of spell.
A simple example of this: A lodestone set in a man’s belt buckle draws success in all undertakings. This is probably because of the stone’s attracting qualities as well as its placement near what some call the ‘third chakra’, located about two inches below the navel. This energy center is associated with personal power and the will. When it is stimulated by the presence of the lodestone, it expands the will and therefore ensures success.
This spell, by the way, is of Mexican origin.
The lodestone, owing to its magnetic powers, is used to draw out disease and pain from the body. True healers, who send energy into a sick person to speed the body’s natural healing powers (or, specifically, to correct imbalances or blockages in bodily energy flows), may use the lodestone as a focusing device for their energies.
The stone can be passed over or placed directly on the afflicted part of the body. This is particularly true of pain in the hands and feet.
It is also carried, often anointed first with a healing-type oil such as sandalwood. Any lodestones used in healing rituals to absorb disease should be cleansed after each use.
It is said to be effective in treating rheumatism and headaches, and in healing wounds. Placed in a black bag which was suspended on a black ribbon around the neck, it was a specific for gout a few centuries ago.
A small lodestone set in silver was thought to sharpen the sight. Set in gold, the lodestone strengthened the heart. A folk spell designed to heal the body of any illness is quite simple: Hold the lodestone in your hands, then shake it vigorously while visualizing your illness draining from you and going into the stone. Bury the stone in the earth for a week following the ritual.
Any lodestone used in healing rituals to absorb disease should be cleansed after each use or, if worn, every week or so.
The lodestone is also worn or carried to attract friendship. If you’ve just moved to a new city or have started a job among unknown people, wear or carry a lodestone to meet new friends.
The lodestone is also utilized to attract love. It is thought to be a magnet for hearts as well as for iron, especially when worn in a ring.
Place a pair of the stones within a circle of pink or red candles while visualizing yourself involved in a relationship. Feel the strong contact, the mingling of energies that comes with love. Visualize as well.
Two lodestones are also often carried in small red bags for this same purpose, sometimes mixed with love-attracting herbs such as rose, yarrow, and lavender (as well as copper, another love-inducer).
The lodestone is also worn to smooth over troubles in a relationship, especially arguing. Its basic function is to cool tempers to allow true communication.
A coral necklace with a lodestone suspended from it was once worn to facilitate easy childbirth.
In American folk magic, women wear lodestones to ensure that their wandering husbands will return home; thus, it stimulates fidelity.
Since this borders on manipulation, as does all fidelity magic, it deserves a few words here.
When you begin a loving/sexual relationship with another person, and especially when children result, you have relinquished some control over your life to your mate and family. This is part of the giving involved in strong emotional ties.
At best such fidelity magic should be used to gently remind your partner of his or her obligations. If a relationship has ended, that's that-all the spells and lodestones in the world won’t recapture the ecstasy, quiet peace and emotional fulfillment that love produces.
Psychic or magical enslavement isn’t love.
The lodestone’s ability to overcome impotency has been mentioned above, but such drastic or complex methods needn’t be used.
A man suffering from sexual dysfunction can hold the stone in his receptive hand, visualizing satisfactory, complete, joyous sexual relations.
Once this is done, he can carry the stone with him or place it beneath the mattress to release its powers. The stone and the visualization work toward rooting out the underlying cause of the sexual dysfunction.
The lodestone has also been utilized as a protective amulet, being worn, placed in the home, or carried. A large lodestone surrounded by flaming white candles emits guarding energies throughout the house. It absorbs negativity but does not return it. Because of this such stones should be cleansed in salt water every Full Moon.
Some carry two lodestones at all times-one to protect, the other to bring good luck. In ancient Spain carrying a lodestone was thought to guard against all dangers from steel, lead, fire and water.
For those lacking in will power (which is simply asserting yourself and acting in accordance with your goals), empower a lodestone through your visualization with this specific directive: “Strengthen my will.” Then carry the stone and utilize the energies it sends you. As I mentioned above, it can be worn two inches below the navel or placed there while you are prone and visualizing yourself as being confident and secure.
Because it is an attracting stone, the lodestone is used to draw money or business success. Place lodestone in a green bag with a silver coin, a bit of gold (ifyou have it) or money-attracting herbs such as patchouly, cloves or tonka. Business people may place an empowered lodestone in the cash register or cash box or burn green candles around a lodestone to bring in customers.
Finally, the lodestone is considered by some to be a potent gambling talisman. It is worn or carried for luck during betting.
[Source: Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem, & Metal Magic by Scott Cunningham]
Post link
