The Magic of Crystal Grids

I started my journey in lucid dreaming about three years ago. Though I've always been prone to imaginative and vibrant dreams, it wasn't until my early twenties that I began dream walking. Lucid dreaming is the ability to control the events, setting, and length of your dreams during the period of REM sleep. Many books have been written on the subject, but few individuals master it. For some, lucid dreaming comes naturally.

When my lucid dreams started, I had been recently separated, and in the process of moving out of state. Lucid dreaming can be triggered by a number of variants; in my case the way I processed dreams was shifting with the changes in my lifestyle. In my first cogent dream (and many dreams to follow) I remember feeling scared, though no real threat presented itself. This is a defining feature in most subjects lucid dreams- a hyper-realistic rush of emotion.

As I struggled to leave the dream, it became more difficult to control my actions. My movements were slow and exaggerated, my breathing heavier, and my awareness of the dreamscape more pronounced. These lucid nightmares became more and more regular, causing me to loose sleep and feel drained. While I later began to gain more control over my dreams (recognizing things that were out of place or that never changed), the feeling of fear and overall depletion in energy made exploration into dream walking difficult.

Sleep is a vital necessity for the human body. In the classic horror slasher, A Nightmare on Elm Street each victim tries to fight off sleep in order to survive. The human bodies reaction to sleep deprivation is a dangerous battle, that can cause in minor cases stress, memory impairment, and inability to process information. In severe cases of sleep deprivation, subjects can struggle with obesity, depression, psychological disorders, and injury- not to mention their link to incidents of stroke, heart failure, and impaired fetal development. The threats of sleep loss are very apparent, but for the average adult a typical work day rarely leaves room for regular and structured sleep schedules.

About a week ago I started getting reoccurring nightmares. My research supports that these dreams can be traced back to my stress level, exhaustion, and food intake (though sleeping positions are also said to affect the quality of dreams, caffeine has been a dominate addition to my diet this holiday season). On a quest for a good nights rest, I explored some alternative methods to dream healing.

In the Hindu doctrine, the chakras are said to reflect key energy points in the body. When a person experiences nightmares, it signifies an imbalance in their third eye chakra. Crystal therapy is a popular method for treating and leveling the state of your chakras, which led me to research the subjects of healing touch and crystal grids.

A crystal grid is used by healers in order to direct energy towards a specific goal or subject. The use of crystal grids is fairly simple. They can be constructed on the body of an individual or on a grid chart. For beginners, I recommend testing out grid charts. A grid chart can be made or purchased. Many people like to purchase grid cloths, which can simplify the process of laying out your stones. There are many grid options available but popular choices are The Flower of Life, The Seed of Life, and the Metaron Cube. These are sacred geometric forms, which are used in crystal healing because they are believed to be a powerful conduit for crystal magic. Geometric forms are said to be at the root of all living things, which make them an effective symbol to channel your energy.

For sleep deprivation, crystals like amethyst, dalmatian jasper, howlite, celestite, and lapis lazuli are all powerful options. As with any spell work, it's recommended that you start by cleansing your crystals and your work space with methods such as smudge sticks and salt bathing. Choose a geometric shape or use a pre made grid cloth to create your grid. Some people opt to use photos of their subject, or place the crystals directly on or under the intended individual in leu of a flat surface. For those using a flat surface, crystals can be secured to your work grid and framed in a shadowbox for a beautiful and meaningful centerpiece in your home. They also make fantastic gifts!

Next, you'll select the crystals for your grid chart. You can add as many crystals as you like; some grids more complex and carefully arranged then others. It is customary to use a power crystal at the center of your chart, as an energy source for the other crystals on the grid. The crystals can then be placed on each side of your power crystal, to indicate a recognition of north, east, south, and west, with smaller crystals surrounding, or filling the space between them (a good option for those who prefer a more intricate pattern then a minimal, five crystal chart). Making crystal grids can be extremely therapeutic. Crystal healing not only combats health issues, but offers a great and calming outlet for your creativity. Because the grids are only a base for the healing process, it allows the person creating the grid creative freedom to use whatever crystals, in varied shape, color, and arrangement they desire. When I make crystal grids, I like to use complementary crystals. Lapis lazuli and dalmatian jasper would pair great together. However, as amethyst is a strong dream healing crystal, this purple stone makes a fantastic center piece for any sleep grid. Howlite and quartz are more complemetary colors to balance off the amethyst, and would make excellent supporting crystals, especially as howlite treats insomnia and OBE's (out of body experiences, strongly linked to lucid dreaming). If sleep is not an issue for you this winter, try constructing grid charts focused on other areas of healing and success. For financial success, pyrite, citrine, and peridot are wonderful choices. For a love grid, rose quartz makes a great centerpiece. Have you made a crystal grid before? Experiment and post your grid charts on instagram with the hashtag #gsbcrystals!

Image: Skyline

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