Ever Hold A Crystal Skull? Kinda Heavy...

So many things to blog about, so little time... well, that's how it is for me, someone who can't manage their time very well at all!

Looking through some earlier posts, I see a couple that ended in a "to be continued" mode... and I still haven't posted the lovely photos from just last fall, when my husband and I went to The Bronx Zoo with a friend of ours.

But those topics will have to wait; for today, I'll blog about my recent foray into the Realm of the Crystal Skulls.

Opheleah, a lovely tourmalinated & rutilated clear quartz crystal skull from Brazil

Meet Opheleah, who began life simply as a large piece of clear quartz in Brazil before being carved into the shape of a human skull in 2009. In addition to the quartz, Opheleah also features areas of black tourmaline and threads of the mineral rutile; an opalized section of quartz is also present.  

(Quartz (silicon dioxide) is perhaps the most prevalent mineral found in the world and its uses are many: glass, electronics, jewelry, meditation and energy healing for spiritual purposes. In ancient times, it was believed that clear quartz was permanently frozen ice - see link below.) 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quartz

Teressena Bakens is the guardian of this particular crystal skull. She, along with her husband, Martien Bakens, were the presenters of this event I attended with my adventurous friend, Sue.   

The dark area is black tourmaline; threads of rutile are also evident throughout.

"Martien and Teressena have facilitated experiential workshops on Tarot and on Sacred Union in the United States and in Holland. For the past eight years they have led group journeys to the sacred lands of the Olmec and Maya in the Yucatan, Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas and Guatemala. Their home in Hot Springs, Arkansas is also the sacred space for Sweat Lodges, Goddess Gatherings, Full Moon circles and the Dream circle."

Source:   http://peacevalleycreations.com

(Incidentally, Arkansas is where some of the clearest and brightest quartz crystal specimens come from.)

The Bakens are also linked to several other web sites (Beacons of Love, Sacred Visionary Art and The Fifth Tarot) and have a Facebook presence.

This crystal skull makes "no bones" about being recently carved, unlike the famous Mitchell-Hedges artifact; it's the artistry and the piezoelectric energies of quartz that make it worthy of our respect.

http://archive.archaeology.org/online/features/mitchell_hedges/

According to the Bakens' handout: "Crystal skulls are conduits of energy, light and consciousness, offering healing, wisdom and love. Teressena is the guardian of Opheleah, a clear crystal quartz skull that embodies the Fifth World ray of unity consciousness." Teressena has been the crystal skull's "arms and legs" for about two years now, since someone brought it to her at a trade show. 

It was an interesting evening with two intriguing, articulate presenters and an audience of gentle, like-minded people.