Mini flames available on the website
There's something about a little crystal flame that makes it stand out from other crystal shapes.
These mini flames are made from five different crystals: dream amethyst, fluorite, peach moonstone, rose quartz & septarian.
They're all the same basic shape, but they look completely different because every crystal has its own colours, markings & patterns.
The flame shape is also an interesting one, because fire has had an important place in the beliefs, everyday lives & stories of different cultures for thousands of years.
So let's have a look at these little flames & the crystals they're made from.
Why a flame?
Fire has been important to people all over the world.
Different cultures have used fire for cooking, light & warmth, but it has also had a place in celebrations, ceremonies & religious traditions.
For example, fire was particularly important in Ancient Greece, where the goddess Hestia was linked with the fire of the home & the hearth.
In Hindu traditions, Agni is the god of fire & is an important figure in Hinduism, with fire playing a central part in various religious ceremonies.
So although a little crystal flame is mainly a decorative shape today, it's based on something that has had a much bigger part in human history.
Now let's look at the crystals.
Dream Amethyst Flame
Dream amethyst is a type of amethyst, so it has the same basic history & properties as other amethyst & it’s also known as chevron amethyst because of the stripes of amethyst & white quartz that create the v shape stripes.
Amethyst has been used for a thousands of years.
It's thought that Ancient Egyptians used amethyst for beads & jewellery; examples have been found in Egyptian archaeological sites.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art has amethyst beads dating from around 1981–1295 BCE.
The Ancient Greeks had a very different link with amethyst.
The name comes from the Greek word amethystos, meaning "not drunk" & it's said that amethyst was linked with protecting people from getting drunk.
Amethyst was also used in Greek & Roman engraved gems & jewellery, so it wasn't simply linked with one particular belief or use.
Today, amethyst is traditionally linked to helping you relax, think clearly & improving sleep.
Add those properties to the little flame shape & you've got a pretty unusual way of displaying amethyst.
Fluorite Flame
Fluorite has an interesting history because people have been using it for thousands of years.
It's thought that people in what is now China were using fluorite for ornaments as far back as prehistoric times.
Archaeologists have found fluorite beads & pendants dating back several thousand years & fluorite continued to be used for personal ornaments during later Chinese dynasties.
The Romans had a different use for fluorite; it's believed that they valued some varieties for making decorative vessels because of the way the material looked & could be worked.
So you've got one culture using it for decorative objects & another using it for personal ornaments.
Today, fluorite is traditionally linked to focus, helping you think clearly & learning.
In a little flame shape, you get all those wonderful properties of fluorite along with a very different way to display it.
Peach Moonstone Flame
Moonstone has a particularly interesting connection with the moon in different cultures.
According to Hindu mythology, moonstone is made from solidified moonbeams, it's also been linked with lunar gods in both Ancient Greek & Roman traditions.
It's easy to see why people made that connection when you look at moonstone, its unusual glow, known as adularescence, which is a soft blueish or milky optical glow that looks like light moving across the surface of the stone.
Moonstone has also been important in Sri Lanka, which has a long history of gemstone use dating back more than 2,000 years. Moonstone is one of the gemstones found there & remains an important source today.
Today, moonstone is traditionally linked to helping you understand your feelings, intuition & new beginnings.
The peach colour of this one makes it especially pretty in a little flame shape.
Rose Quartz Flame
Rose quartz has been used by different cultures for thousands of years.
Rose quartz beads dating back to around 7000 BC have been found in the area once known as Mesopotamia, which is now part of Iraq.
It's thought that the Assyrians made rose quartz jewellery around 800–600 BC.
The Ancient Romans had another use for rose quartz, it's said that they used it for seals to show ownership.
Ancient Egyptians also had their own beliefs about quartz, with rose quartz & other forms of quartz being valued for their supposed powers & used as amulets.
So rose quartz has had different meanings & uses depending on where & when it was being used.
Today, rose quartz is traditionally linked to kindness, love & relationships.
You've got a lovely combination of the soft pink colour in a little flame shape, the natural patterns in the crystal & a shape linked with fire.
Septarian Flame
Septarian is a little different from the other crystals in this post.
There isn't the same long, well-documented history of ancient cultural use for septarian, so I'm not going to make one up just to fill the paragraph! 😂
What makes septarian interesting is the way it formed.
Septarian nodules developed cracks as they formed & those cracks were later filled with minerals such as calcite. When the piece is cut & polished, the result is the distinctive pattern of lines & shapes you see inside it.
Septarian nodules are found in different parts of the world, including Britain. In fact, septaria from the London Clay were once collected for building purposes & were used to make what was known as Roman cement.
So while there isn't an ancient crystal tradition to tell you about with septarian, there's still a fascinating bit of history attached to the material.
Today, septarian is traditionally linked to communication, confidence & helping you feel more positive, when you put that distinctive pattern into a little flame shape, it really does st& out.
Which flame would you choose?
So there you have five little flames, all made from completely different crystals:
🔥 Dream amethyst
🔥 Fluorite
🔥 Peach moonstone
🔥 Rose quartz
🔥 Septarian
The shape is the same, but the colours, patterns & properties of the crystals make each one completely different.
You might choose one because of the crystal's energy, you love its colour, you like the flame shape, or just because one of them catches your eye.
Sometimes that's all the reason you need. 😂💜
Next time, we'll be looking at another rather unusual crystal carving – mini fluorite carvings.