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Every stone has its own particular purpose
Sedat Kandemir has probably been collecting and selling stones for longer than anyone else in Turkey. His small shop in Kadıköy overflows with stones of all shapes, colours and sizes. He believes that stones are the children of the earth and that every stone has its own particular purpose. He shared his knowledge of the healing properties of stones and crystals with us. ''Amber should be worn near the thyroid. Wearing a piece of crystal quartz around your neck helps to regulate your blood pressure. Smoky quartz absorbs radiation. Chrysoprase is good for depression. Opals are used to treat rheumatism and hematite improves circulation when it is passed over the body. Obsidian or volcanic glass is frequently used in massage.'' Kandemir explains that some stones must not be cut or worked as they lose their healing powers. However, other stones such as turquoise and lapis lazuli are only effective when held near a chakra.
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Nature's stone flowers
Erhan Koksal worked as a jeweller before making a career out of his first passion, stones. ''A number of decorative stones are found in Turkey including kammererite crystals, a chromium rich variety of clinochlore. Diaspore crystals used to be found in aluminium oxide furnaces. Turkey has the largest boron reserves in the world. Boron crystals or colemanite are very beautiful. It takes millions of years for these crystals to form. We only live 60-70 years. We are nothing compared to them.'' Erhan Köksal is more interested in the crystals' beauty than in their reputed healing powers. He also has a large collection of petrified wood. ''These date back 8 to 400-500 million years. We may know hardly anything about our great-grandparents, but we can hold a piece of petrified wood in our hands that is millions of years old. It is an incredible feeling.'' Koksal is currently in the process of establishing the Istanbul Mineral and Fossil Museum that is scheduled to open in six months in Balat.
Positive energy and fashion
Mihriban Adıgul is a jewellery designer who uses her knowledge of the healing properties of stones to create custom-made designs. Adıgul grew up surrounded by stones, as her mother was a geomorphologist. ''I base my designs on the harmony between the energy of the body and the energy of stones, bearing in mind the mental and physical benefits provided by the stones. You could call it the artistic expression of the meeting of positive energy and fashion!'' Adıgul emphasises that her works are not a form of alternative therapy.Before she designs a piece, Adıgul interviews her customer either face to face or in writing to find out if they suffer from an ailment, what its causes might be and what treatment they are receiving. Next, she places all the stones she uses in her designs in front of the customer and leaves them alone together. ''A person is drawn to a particular stone for a reason: they choose a stone that is in tune with their own frequency. After my customers choose their stones, I design a piece for the appropriate chakra: a necklace for the heart chakra, a silver belt for the hara chakra or a hairpin for the crown chakra.'' Finally, the customer specifies the style of accessory they would like. We asked Adıgül how men might be able to benefit from healing stones. ''A tiepin is ideal for the heart chakra. Rings, key chains and cufflinks can also be worn. Or, they can place an uncut stone or crystal in their workplace. Amethysts transform negative energy into positive energy. Chalcedony promotes clear thinking and improves verbal skills.''
Shakespeare's description of Cleopatra can also be applied to stones: age cannot wither them nor custom stale their infinite variety.
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* Shopping for stones is a lot like shopping for medicine: every stone has different properties and benefits. In particular, bipolar stones (stones that have negative and positive poles) such as tourmaline and opal should be used carefully. We recommend that you research the topic extensively before using stones for healing purposes. Addresses * Sert Mineral: Sedat Kandemir. Muhurdar Cad. No: 70, Akmar Pasajı, 26/B, Kadıkoy. Tel: +90 216-349 22 63 * Dogaltas: Erhan Koksal. Valikonağı Cad. No: 73, Nişantaşı. Tel: +90 212-225 23 26. * Mihriban Adıgul'ün çalışmaları Girgin Piyano ve Sanat Galerisi'nde görülebilir. Mihriban Adıgul's accessories are available at the Girgin Piano and Art Gallery. Address: Nüshetiye Cad. No: 36, Besiktas. Tel: +90 212-250 75 13. www.mihrigemstone.com |
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