Body Image and Smoky Quartz

Body image is a culmination of our perception and physical
experiences of and about our bodies. It involves our imagination and
emotions we create around this idea, good or bad. This idea is often
changing. It is psychological in nature and is more influenced by
self-esteem, changes in mood, environment and physical experiences.
This is a learned experience. This learning occurs in the family and
among our peers, and tend to reinforce the negative images that are
so ingrained in our minds, culturally. Often referred to as Body
Dysmorphic Syndrome, the effects can be emotionally devastating as
well as misleading.

Expressions such as "I hate my body. I'm too (fat, skinny, short,
tall...)" often come from a place of low self esteem. Bringing your
awareness to your body is an amazing feeling! One of the most
beautiful ways to bring honor to anything is to touch it. With the
energy transfer between two beings, the process can be a great
evolution. When honoring the self, it is even more awakening.

Self-esteem is a confidence in yourself and your capabilities. Self-
esteem is important because if allows you to enjoy a happier, more
joy-filled life. Most importantly, self-esteem helps you feel
connected with the "true spirit" within yourself. This enables you to
take responsibility for your own happiness. You MUST make positive
thinking a habit, and this allows you to build self-esteem!

Smoky Quartz is a grounding stone. It is used most often to overcome
depression, nightmares and stress. Quartz stimulates the natural
crystal in body tissues and fluids to resonate at the highest healing
frequency. The clearest smoky quartz are the most intense, powerfully
opening the Crown Chakra emanating light down to the Root Chakra,
therefore, inducing Alpha/deep meditation. Because of this situation,
it's benefits also include channeling higher guidance, deep
relaxation and helping with unconditional love.

Heightens your understanding of nature and concerns for the
environment. Smoky Quartz helps store information well for easier
recall. Because it is associated with the Root Chakra, it helps to
alleviate fear, anxiety and associated emotional depression. When
placed opposite other smokies in a crystal grid these stone vibrate
at a high energy level. It is the perfect stone for grounding the
Etheric Layer of the Aura. This makes smoky quartz a great stone for
detoxing, clears ambivalence and fortifies resolve.

Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac
Peacefulmind.com
Therapies for healing
mind, body, spirit

I found this one extremely interesting.  I am with the Love of my Life.  When I met him he was at the end of recovering from a 10 year relationship gone bad.  After she moved out, he went to a local store called Cool Stuff and found a smoky quartz crystal.  For a person with NO magickal background to tell me that a stone was calling to him speaks volumes to me.  

Recently he decided he wanted to cleanse and bless the stone in my way (he is amazingly supportive though is not pagan himself, more athiest sp?).  I agreed fully.  The time before me was very hard for him and he withdrew from the world.  Even when his Mother passed on (May the Lord and Lady bless her soul) He didn't even call his best friends.  Instead he sat in his apartment agonizing over the loss of the relationship and his Mother.  I figured that crystal had soaked up all these terrible feeling he was having.  (We also cleansed his guitar).  After leaving the crystal in a bowl of Sea Salt and in the moonlight for 30 days, I had him put it under his pillow and sleep on it for a full Lunar cycle to make it his own.  

Lately I have noticed a distinct difference in his views of himself.  Not thinking he looks like crap because he didn't shave.  Actually believing he deserves our relationship and that he is worth our love.  Now I know that his crystal helped with this way of thinking of himself.  

In closing I would say if the smoky quartz helped an athiest (sp?) without a magickal guide (a human at least) it will help anyone.  I have now decided to go buy my manic depressed friends a smoky crystal, (maybe that will cut down on the middle of the night calls!)  

Blessed Be
Sky

I have a piece of regular quartz..but i think i might need to go look for a smokey quartz for myself....