Carnelian Research Paper

I’ve never thought much about what my favorite gemstone is, since I’ve always thought rocks were just rocks. Since I’ve become involved in magick I’ve begun to view things differently, and recently I’ve become more aware of the physical items that I keep around me. One such item is a carnelian owl figurine that I always keep close beside me. Furthermore, I recently decided to purchase a set of gemstone runes that are made from carnelian. Without conscious thought I’ve found that time after time I’ve been drawn to carnelian, and after studying the physical and metaphysical properties of carnelian I’ve come to a conscious understanding of why.

Physically carnelian is a translucent blood-red to reddish-orange variety of chalcedony. Chalcedony is a variety of microcrystalline quartz, or quartz that is composed of microscopic fibers. Carnelian’s coloration is due to the presence of iron oxide impurities, which can uniformly color it or create bands of various hues. Therefore, what makes carnelian the beautiful quartz that is, is the impurities that it contains. Upon reflection I realized that this fact is one of the reasons I’m drawn to carnelian, since it repudiates traditional societal values concerning purity and beauty. In our society pure is considered the ideal and impure is considered flawed or bad. In
reality no one is completely pure; we are all a mess of imperfections. Therefore, it is our imperfections that make us who we are, beautiful vibrant human beings. Consequently, carnelian serves as constant reminder that impurities are not always bad; they can in fact make us beautiful.

In addition to the physical properties of carnelian, metaphysically it is aligned with the element of fire. Fire is often a misunderstood and feared aspect of life. For many people, fire is seen as a destructive force, which brings devastation and heartache. While fire can be destructive, it also restores and transforms. Carnelian’s metaphysical ability to energize and rejuvenate mirrors fire’s capability to breathe new life into the land.

In addition, carnelian has the magickal ability to alleviate depression. I’m bi-polar and I struggle daily with depression. When I discovered that carnelian helped with depression, I began to understand why I keep my little carnelian owl beside me all the time. Upon reflection I realized that that I struggle less with depression when I have this figurine beside me, and in addition my mind seems clearer and more focused. Furthermore, I realized that I’m more at peace when I have carnelian around me, which is another magickal property of this quartz.

After studying the physical and metaphysical properties of carnelian, I began to understand why I’ve always unconsciously been drawn to this stone.
Physically carnelian reflects my belief concerning flaws and imperfections, which is reflected in carnelian’s beauty being a result of its imperfection. In addition, without consciously realizing the metaphysical effects of carnelian I’ve been keeping it near me, and have benefited from it in numerous ways. It has helped to alleviate my depression, and has stimulated my mind and helped with mental confusion. Therefore, whether I realized it or not, I do have a favorite stone, which has helped me in many important
ways.