Crystals Cast

Take a peek into your past or future with crystal casting, says Shahin Ashraf Ali Since ancient times, crystals have been used for two chief purposes - for healing and divining. While there is a growing awareness about the practice of healing with crystals, few are aware about crystal casting or reading crystals to gain insights into past, current and potential future trends which surround you.

Traditionally, a set of twelve stones is used for crystal casting. There are different ways of casting and reading crystals. According to an interesting old gypsy tradition, a circle of approximately eighteen inches is drawn on the ground. Then you take twelve precious stones/crystals and one 'significator' stone, which is any ordinary stone or pebble. The stones are then thrown on the ground within the circle. To read, you look at what gems/ crystals lie closest to the 'significator' stone and interpret its divinatory meaning. Each stone has its own unique divinatory meanings. For example, in a reading, diamond indicates a business promotion, emerald suggests a secret admirer in the questioner's life, ruby suggests an influence of a stranger, topaz advises caution, sapphire foretells harmony, sardonyx predicts a wedding, garnet foretells the arrival of a message and so on.

Would you like to know what life challenge you are working on (or you need to work on) now? Using 12 crystals - amethyst, aventurine, blue lace agate, citrine, clear quartz, gold tiger eye, hematite, red jasper, rose quartz, snowflake obsidian, snow quarts and unakite against a backdrop of astrological wisdom, here is a crystal cast to help you gain insight into your present life challenge.

Aries {Mar 21 - Apr 20}
Your life challenge at this point of time is to allow the death of one phase of life and learn that this preludes the birth of a new cycle. The clear quartz crystal falling in your twelfth life area - philosophy, urges you to clear away old lifestyle patterns, emotional debris and anything that is currently holding you back from clearly seeing your way forward and moving ahead. Connect with clear quartz for clarity.

Taurus {Apr 21 - May 20}
The citrine crystal falls on your first life area - the self. Your present life challenge is to know thyself. Learn how to become a distinct and unique individual without becoming solitary and setting yourself apart from others. Citrine counsels you to follow your instincts and do not ignore unusual ideas. Take up pursuits or study subjects, which lift your spirit. Connect with the citrine frequency to feel inspired and joyous.

Gemini {May 21 - Jun 21}
The crystal aventurine falls in your fifth life area i.e. pleasure. Your life challenge at this time is to make enough time in your life to play and have fun, to nurture your inner child and allow it a greater degree of expression, to bring zest and exuberance into your life. Aventurine puts you on note that through having fun you can bring your life back into harmony. Connect with aventurine frequency to be calmed and soothed.

Cancer {Jun 22 - Jul 23}
At present, there are two life challenges for you. One is to address the issue - is my home life sufficiently supportive so that I may relax and refresh my spirit here? The other is to be able to express your inner being or communicate what you really wish to. Red jasper falling in your life areas of home and communication counsels, deal with all family matters in a very down-to-earth way and consider writing or finding some other creative outlet. Connect with red jasper to help your ideas and thoughts take form and to translate your inspiration into physical reality.

Leo {Jul 24 - Aug 23}
Clear quartz falls in your second life are - prosperity. Clearly, your life challenge now is to put your wealth, gifts and possessions to meaningful use. The cast urges you to clarify your values - what do you hold to be truly dear and important in your life? Bring some structure into the material part of your life. Connect with clear quartz when you need clarification or focus.

Virgo {Aug 24 - Sep 23}
Hematite associated with fate and predestined events falls in the centre of your life wheel. Your life challenge at present is to look out for opportunities to explore your destiny and spiritual mission in this life. Connection with others at this time may involve strong karmic links. Ensure you make the divine your strength and stay centred at all times. Connect with the hematite frequency to help you fulfill your soul purpose.

Libra {Sept 24 - Oct 22}
The crystal aventurine falls in your ninth life area - travel. Your life challenge for now is to ensure your life journey has spiritual meaning - travel purposefully, check that you are not running away - above all enjoy the journey. Aventurine urges you to feel free to travel and learn as much as possible now. Through greater knowledge you can liberate yourself. Connect with aventurine frequency to open your heart and mind to the spiritual frequencies within the universe.

Scorpio {Oct 23 - Nov 23}
Your life challenge at the moment is to know who you really are. With the crystal unakite falling in your first life area - the self, you are advised to seek to balance and harmonise seemingly conflicting aspects of your personality. Marry the active and the passive parts of your being. Connect with the unakite frequency to help unite seemingly irreconcilable energies.

Sagittarius {Nov 23 - Dec 22}
Your life challenge for now is to reinvent yourself indicates amethyst, falling in the area of self. A profound change is due to take place within you. Allow inner changes to take place peacefully and smoothly - try not to resist your transformation. Connect with the amethyst frequency to increase spiritual awareness and change your life at many different levels.

Capricorn {Dec 23 - Jan 22}
The snowflake obsidian covers the third (communication) and fourth (home) life areas. Your life challenges at present are - to improve your communication with your family, better your home life and heal the past. Remember, words of inspiration and solace can comfort and support those who are hurting. Also, communication occurs not just with words. Use your creativity to clear the ambience at home of confusion and disharmony. Connect with snowflake obsidian to receive encouragement and motivation.

Aquarius {Jan 23 - Feb 19}
Blue lace agate covers your fourth life area - home. Your life challenge for now is emotional security and family values. The crystal counsels you to heal past family quarrels to build a firm foundation for future happiness. Connect with blue lace agate to enhance your creative abilities, communicate more effectively and bring harmony into your life.

Pisces {Feb 20 - Mar 21}
Rose quartz crystal falls in your eighth life area - mysticism. Your present life challenge is to learn to take absolute responsibility for what you create and each and every action you take. Apply a higher wisdom to understand the universal patterns that occur within life. Accept and learn from past mistakes then forgive yourself and move on. Connect with the frequency of rose quartz that aids forgiveness, restores peace and harmony.