Hematite is an iron oxide crystal and an important ore of iron. It is part of the trigonal crystal system and is often found in rocks and soil. Hematite has a metallic like lustre and colours that range from black to grey and silver, along with more reddish-brown varieties. The meaning of Hematite is grounding and protection.
The History of Hematite
The blood-red pigment of precious Hematite speaks to its incredibly high iron content. The Ancient Greeks were obsessed with this stone, and they named it Haima, which in the old Latin tongue is the Greek word for blood. A pleasant weight in the hand, and shot through with metallic shades of silver, Hematite has the same lustre and vibe as a midnight sky littered with stars, maybe on a night when the planet Mars is glinting. Throughout history, Hematite has been known as a stone of great healing power and also for its ability to serve as a protective cloak. The Iron Rose as it was sometimes called has long left an impression on the earth. Far back in history, the stone was considered to be an early form of a mirror thanks to its reflective sheen. It was also ground down into powdered pigment for artists – even used by prehistoric man for etching his ideas on the walls of caves. It was smeared onto the faces of Native Americans and used as war paint. In its full form, Hematite adorned the tombs of the pharaohs. As you can see the spanning history covers everything from art to elite status and the powers of protection. It’s been an incredible part of our history. Hematite is harder than your average crystal, it's dense and heavy and comes from the depths of South Africa and the warm-blooded lands of Brazil. It is also found in the winter wonderlands of French-speaking Quebec around the shores of Lake Superior. It can also be plucked from the snowy peaks of Switzerland. For three thousand years, Hematite has been associated with magic and blood. It was used to prevent excessive bleeding in both the birthing bed and the battleground. It was worn by farmers and magicians to protect against curses and spells, and it’s always been a stone that keeps the wearer well and truly grounded. For those who want to dig deep into the healing properties of Hematite, keep reading.
Hematite Healing Properties Hematite is brimming with healing properties. It’s like throwing a protective cloak over your shoulder, grabbing your shield and sword, and stepping out the door. This stone brings a deep heartfelt confidence thanks to its ability to stop toxic emotions in their tracks. It’s connected to the root chakra, which is the foundation of our stability in this world, and it keeps us clear-minded and sassy with self-care every single day.
Physical Healing Properties
With a rich past and a high iron content that has long kept Hematite connected to the blood, it comes as no surprise that Hematite is considered to be one of the best stones for increasing healthy circulation in the body. If you have high blood pressure, clots, heavy periods, or any kind of health issue connected with blood flow, this is a stone you need in your life. Hematite keeps your tissue in tip-top shape, it makes sure you can properly absorb all your nutrients, and it detoxifies the body (along with the mind and soul).
Mental & Emotional Healing Properties
Hematite is a strength bringer - it’s a Stone for the Mind. If you often find yourself at the mercy of other peoples bad moods and vibes, then Hematite is ever ready to step in and make sure that you don’t become a sponge for negative energy. For those who are high empaths, Hematite is an incredible investment. It somehow manages to kickstart our survival instinct and is all about infusing us with courage, willpower, and confidence enhancing abilities. For those who sometimes feel like they live life a little on the timid side, Hematite is here to give your self-esteem a hearty boost. This new strength of character can help you to overcome all kinds of things. Addictive behaviours, poor patterns, and being a people pleaser – all these traits can be thrown out the window when Hematite comes in.
Metaphysical Properties
A strong rooting stone, Hematite is connected to the Root Chakra and the Solar Plexus Chakra. Our base chakras are where our confidence, belief in self, and feelings of security sit. When these are activated we feel unshakable which helps us to make decisions that are in complete alignment with our own souls. Hematite is also celebrated for its yin-yang balancing out. The stone is able to both the spiritual and the physical nervous system and merge them into beautiful balanced alignment.
Zodiac Birthstone
Hematite is an amazing birthstone for those born under the banner of Aquarius. Aquarians are original thinkers, they are independent and easy-going, and they also live largely within their own heads. This floating head kind of existence can sometimes leave them wide open to overthinking and taking in other people’s bad vibes as their own. Being sometimes out of whack in the physical nervous system, having a stone like Hematite will provide that much-needed protection to keep the spirit strong and the body and mind firmly in the chill zone. Aries too, can benefit greatly from Hematite. The earth and fire stone with its reddish brown and silver hues is a good match for their fire spirit, and while they don’t need any help on the courage front, they can benefit from a good old dose of yin energy to bring them out of the pushy yang flow and into better-balanced harmony. How to Use Hematite Crystals Welcome Hematite into your life and say yes to beautiful crystal jewellery so you can get that potent direct contact with the skin. Pressing Hematite close to the skin means that your body can easily soak up the protective energy and healing vibes without any distraction. Another way of bringing Hematite into your daily life is through worry stones, protective amulets, and even tumbled pieces to place in a Feng Shui altar. Take a look at these suggestions on how to use Hematite to create your own haven.
Home & Office
Hematite in the home and office keeps your space protected too. Its super strong grounding energy and its ability to get the mind to fine-tune focus means that you can be sure of getting your stuff done when Hematite is in your eye line. Hematite is a great Feng Shui stone for work and creative play. Place it in your office to encourage higher concentration or if you are an artist, you may also find it helpful to have it in any studio space. Another place you can put Hematite is by your front door to keep the whole space protected from any bad vibes entering.
Jewellery
Choose Hematite jewellery to truly make the most of this magic master of all the grounding stones. As mentioned, having Hematite against the skin allows you to soak up even more of its power. A Hematite Bracelet can keep you standing strong, fully grounded, and completely unshakeable no matter how much chaos the world is in around you. If you are looking for other healing stones that complement the magic of magnetic Hematite then you can start with Bloodstone known for its ability to balance the chakras and cleanse anxiety. Amethyst can also be a good companion, especially when it comes to leaning a little more on that spiritual flowing energy. Obsidian, Lapis Lazuli, Magnetite, Labradorite, Carnelian, Malachite, Aventurine, Opal, Rose Quartz, and Agate all come with some beautifully complementary properties that balance Hematite too.
How to Cleanse Your Hematite Stone Keeping your Hematite cleansed, charged and in the clear is vital if you want your stone to sit in the finest power and health. Healing crystals can work on vibrations and sometimes they can get overstuffed or blocked and need a good clear out. Cleansing your Hematite Stone isn’t hard but it’s not a stone that likes water. Water can cause your Hematite to rust thanks to the iron oxide content. Instead of using water on your stone you can simply use a soft bristle brush (like a toothbrush) and give it a rub every now and then to shake it free of trapped energy. If you want to charge up your Hematite then place it on top of your other rock crystals to infuse it with some much-needed energy. Hematite is an amazing stone for those who just want a good heady dose of grounding. The world can be a tough place and its often all too easy to feel like you are being blown along without an anchor to keep you strong. Fortunately, Hematite can be that anchor. For those who want to feel stable, protected, and to keep themselves free from the burden of other people’s all-consuming energy, this is a stone that helps you to keep your footing when it comes to potent crystal healing. Hematite is heaven-sent, its clarity and focus, its yin-yang balancing act, and its trustworthy nature make sure that you stay solid as a rock.
It's mid morning and the palace is still asleep. Amenei slowly stirs, memories from last night start to flood back into his mind. he makes his way to his quarters, try not to wake anyone. “what took is so long to come to bed?” states shukura.
Amenei is feeling uncomfortable. “Umm, I fell asleep in the Great Hall, too much wine I guess.”
Shukura can sense a new energy emanating from him… she pauses.
“My father wants us to all meet in the garden and enjoy a hearty lunch together before they return home.”
“Okay, that sounds good.”
An excerpt from my latest novel The Oracle of Eshe: Serial