#not scientifically proven

[tears-that-heal]

Red Flag Symbols for Christians #3

Okie dokie, this being the very first blog series post of 2024 it'll focus on Healing Crystals and Gemstones. This is a big one! This phenomena has incredibly spread and continues to grow in our modern world, especially in America. It's become common place to see and purchase these dazzling rocks from anywhere you turn. Why and how has crystals become so in gross into our culture? Also is it true that crystals have healing properties? I've done some updated research to properly address and answer this questions.

My dear brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, I pray this series of blog posts help aid you in your own personally walk with the our Lord. These posts are only to help equip you to become more aware of this world's spiritual traps; never to fear it. To protect your mind and not possibly get tangled in the devil's web. Psalms 91:9-10, "If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home." Psalms 91:4, "He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection." In Jesus Name, AMEN!

Let's Begin.......

Do healing crystals really work? Fact or fiction? - by Laura Barry

What are crystals?

‘Crystals’ is the name given to a group of minerals or fossilised resins that are believed to have beneficial health properties. Holding crystals or keeping them on your person is thought to promote spiritual, mental and physical healing and energisation. Crystals are also thought to interact with your body’s energy field, or chakra.

Historical evidence of crystals being used in alternative medicines and rituals aside, there isn’t actually any scientific evidence to suggest these claims are true. In fact, modern science has actually proven the opposite, that crystals do not work.

In 2001, Goldsmith’s College psychologist Dr. Chris French gave crystals to 80 volunteers, along with an information book about their supposed mystic attributes. Half the participants had the real thing, while half were given cheap, plastic knock-offs, yet both groups reported to feel the tingly, feel-good vibes described in the book. A mere six participants in the study reported they didn’t feel a thing.

Dr Richard Wiseman, psychologist at the University of Hertfordshire in Hatfield and a researcher into paranormal claims, told the Telegraph UK in reference to the study that, "It is suggestive that the power of crystals is in the mind instead of in the crystals.

full article source: https://www.bhg.com.au/do-crystals-really-work#

So basically the "source" of the healing crystal is through spiritual means. The origins and concept of healing crystals and gemstones has been tracked down into ancient time, even during the rein of the Egyptians. In more modern day use, these "tools" are believed to harness and channel energy to heal the body. Seen and used as a tool of medicine and therapy in many eastern cultures, and rooted heavily in Hinduism and Buddhism (referring to Chakra and Karma).

This article is from Times in India & has an interesting explanation....

The science behind healing crystals explained!

TNN / Aug 1, 2019, 19:00 IST

For the uninitiated, crystals (fossilized minerals) are believed to contain several healing properties. From bringing peace to the mind to fighting depression, the list seems to be endless. A lot of celebrities are using them and vouching for their efficacy. They have also been used in ancient forms of medicine and by priests to align the body chakras.

And now, using crystals as an effective form of practicing self-care is becoming incredibly popular. Scientifically, there is no science backing to the power of crystal healing in treating or curing conditions. However, using healing crystals can be very relaxing as they induce a sense of relaxation in the environment. But, do they actually work in treating medical conditions? 

According to experts, crystals act as a power hold for healing as they allow positive, fruitful energy to flow into the body and do away with the negative, toxic energy. Like other forms of alternative therapy, crystals work by channelizing your energy levels, thereby, focus on healing your body from the inside. Crystals also carry the power to induce a placebo effect in the body, which is scientifically proven to help medical treatment.

(full article source)

***

If you're not aware what is a placebo effect, here's the psychological definition. (full definition source)

The placebo effect is when a person's physical or mental health appears to improve after taking a placebo or 'dummy' treatment. Placebo is Latin for 'I will please' and refers to a treatment that appears real, but is designed to have no therapeutic benefit.

I mentioned about Chakra and Karma before, and there's another use of healing crystals that has taken another form; Chakra Gemstone Trees.

An Amazon item description,

"The deeper Understanding of Seven Chakra Gemstone Tree

It is said to Brings wealth, Prosperity & Good luck, as well as an excellent Feng Shui Figurine, tree symbolizes stability & growth. It will help you to attract all good things, enhance your creativity and bring a joyful vibration."

If you enjoy the natural beauty of gemstones and crystals, I high encourage you to purchase them more naturally presented. The images below are good examples of avoiding to purchase that are not used in healing and other spiritual rituals.

May our Lord bless you and keep you! Be watchmen on the tower, and in God's perfect love for His children, Fear cannot dwell in it. In Jesus name, Amen. ❤️

*Just an extra tidbit on the symbolism of crystals in art, here are two examples with a focus on wicca and witchcraft.*

[beardedhandstoadshark]

Pro(?) tip for feeling dead inside: break the routine! Take the longer path to the grocery store. Sleep on the other side of the bed. Go outside at 4am even if it’s just the front door. Lay on the ground with your legs up a wall. Jump and slap the wall above the door. Spin in a circle. Slide around. Do a roll. Just do things you normally wouldn’t or differently, even if it’s just small things- that tiny bit of feeling something’s different can already help in the moment.

[otterwithatophat]

Forcing my aro/ace headcannons onto every character I come into contact with like a disease from the 1700s <3

[glassshine]

I just saw the art of your scroops and I am in love!! I've loved winged animals ever since reading Cat Wings as a kid and so I can't wait to see more of your adorable little critters :3

GOOD you should ALL be excited waiting for Peanut my beloved 🫵

[oliviaeatworld]

Here’s a thought. Hunter bad batch (that is his full name, yes) has enhanced senses. We assume that means hearing, smell, taste, touch- maybe sight, but that’s more of a Crosshair thing.

BUT we know for sure it includes the ability to feel electromagnetic frequencies. Okay. Hear me out.

EMF reader.

What does EMF stand for? Electromagnetic fields. As far I as I know, these are not the same as electromagnetic frequencies. tomato tomahto

What’s an EMF used for? Detecting ghosts. In ghost hunting shows and games.

Are you picking up what I’m laying down??

I’m thinking: Hunter is a walking ghost detector.

I could be totally wrong. But it’s nice to dream

[degreesofkei]

best way to de-stress is hugging a fur ball to sleep they say

[ask-whitepearl-and-steven]

I want you to know I respect your opinion and at the end of the day you can do whatever you want on your own page, which I love all the art you do. Your White Diamond AU is so remarkable I've added it to my own headcanon idea of Steven meeting his alternate selves.

With that said, why are you responding to posts or asks that talk about blatant shattering of other gems? Real SU fans don't immediately go "death to the enemy." Real SU fans understand that SU is about love, acceptance, second chances, and pacifism. I'll admit, there have been more idiots in the fandom since the show's end, but in my humble opinion, it's best to not give any of them attention, even if they are annoying.

Sorry if I sound rude, I just didn't get responding to that one ANONYMOUS comment.

It's not rude at all! And it's a great question! One I understand the reasoning of.

But I have my own reasoning for doing the things I do.

Mainly, I think that while ignoring SOME behaviors is definitely good.... talking about OTHER behaviors actively is the fastest and healthiest way to immunize the greater community against them.

Let me explain.

I've been in this fandom a long time now, and I agree with you - there's a solid possibility, a real chance that whoever sent that message is just a passing non-fan who decided to be weirdly edgy in my inbox. No big deal. It happens.

But in my experience, the SU fandom is.... wide and varied. There are people of all ages, and many opinions. It would be easier, of course, if the only 'true fans' were those who perfectly understood the show's themes. But to me, that veers dangerously close to a No True Scotsman type of thinking. The reality is that many different people watch SU. And while many of them do inherently agree with the message and understand the nuance, many more just watch the show because... they like the surface level graphics and cool fights and interesting worldbuilding. In fact, many of the show's fans are edgy teens (sorry edgy teens) who are in a life-stage where violence and being strong and cool and decisive in a morally black and white manner is the only way they can possibly imagine solving any problem. And... that's kinda the opposite of what SU teaches! But that's also the point. SU teaches those things on purpose.

And yeah, I can absolutely just ignore this part of the population. But ignoring a behavior does not actually make it go away 100% of the time. If a child in a supermarket comes up to you and starts smacking you with a wooden spoon from Aisle 4, then... sure... you can ignore them and see if their parent comes to get them, or they go away, especially if it's a very small child and they're not hurting you a lot.

But that's not the only option. You can ALSO opt to teach them - and any other spoon-wielding children watching - what COULD happen if they are crude or cruel to a stranger in public. Namely, you can snap 'stop it' and at the very least glare at that child. This is a lesson that will arguably teach them more about the interaction than a complete lack of reaction would.

Now, I'm not saying people who send me asks are all children and I'm doling out some moral lessons here. This is just a metaphor.

I'm simply a person in a social space (tumblr) who is driving my own blog. And while I DO ignore a very large part of cruel/rude asks I get (trust me, I do ignore many!) I sometimes also just post a reply to show what ELSE could happen if you say a borderline silly and arguably tonally inappropriate ask to a person. You could get replied to! In a sarcastic or snappy manner!

And maybe - just maybe - the other people reading my blog can learn something from the experience, and think 'ah, so doing it like THAT will maybe make people kinda annoyed, now I know and will not do that'.

I cannot deny that overall I agree with you, though. I don't think that these types of messages deserve attention on the regular. But I'd hope that my replies to these things are not really... regular. I ignore probably... 80% of these sort of things? I guess maybe it just feels like a lot less, since, well. The public ones are 100% of the ones you get to see!

[faespacecritter]

POV you are the TV in the living room at the gay aliens house

[nyxi-pixie]

beast dazai shouldve spent less time being an asshole and more time spreading his own <3

[hongsasum]

icb when episode 5 dropped so many fans ACTUALLY thought alastor sincerely, genuinely, wholeheartedly saw charlie as a daughter like you have to be lying, people cannot be THIS stupid truly 😭

he was literally pretending to be charlie’s boyfriend to piss off lucifer up until charlie introduced vaggie as her girlfriend, and then immediately hopped onto the “i’m your other father coraline!” bs

this is when you know like 70% of the fandom is made up of kids with developing brains, they take every single thing alastor says at face value

[smhalltheurlsaretaken]

for real 'don't mourn the dead but rather rejoice' is just about the most universal piece of wisdom you'll get from any religion anywhere so dunno what else people expected the head of a semi-religious order to tell anakin.

if you come to a spiritual person for advice (which anakin did, of his own volition) you get a spiritual answer idek

[callibones]

took the 1920s wife assessment and got a 0% who wants me 🥴

[beeing-stuupid]

i finished tma…

i cried!!

[p4nishers]

talking w ppl irl really is just like. wow. insane how unfunny you are compared to my close personal friend The Fictional Character

[8xlewis]

a good test to see if your ship has the potential to be real is imagining them in a mainstream romance movie, with one person from the ship being the main character and the other being the preliminary love interest. would they work out with the classic "opposites attract" trope?

take carlando. let's say lando is the main character. he'd probably start out as the scrawny, shy (this is by sorta but not really progressive mainstream media's portrayals and standards, not mine) freshman (?? in wherever au this is) who falls in love with the preliminary love interest; enter carlos. another classic trope in 50/50 mainstream lgbt movies, the seemingly straight love interest (although if you're not straight/have a working gaydar you'll know that carlos doesn't look straight one bit, but television writers don't see that so just walk with me), who's a jock/popular/whatever other adjective you wanna give him, and who ends up being set up for the BIG PLOT TWIST!! he's not straight.

now I don't know about you, but to me this sounds like the start of a bangin romcom. so boom, mystery solved!

[babygirltangerine]

eating a cookie but cant taste it because my taste buds are all burnt. fuck my stupid yuichi kimura life