Storm season is in full effect in Florida. As the effects of a hurricane-turned-tropical-storm scour the landscape, I can’t help but reflect on the symbolism embodied in storms. One of my mentors in the world of crystal healing regarded storms as a synthesis of all the alchemical elements (earth, air, fire, water). As these forces converge, something greater than sum of its parts is revealed. Storms may bring destruction, but they also refresh, renew, and transform. They disrupt the day-to-day routines of many, offering a chance to reflect, reinvent, or change course. In a lot of ways, these themes feel as though they coincide with the current Mercury retrograde transit.
Since my childhood I’ve been fascinated by stormy weather. The winds, thunder, rain, and lightning of an afternoon thunderstorm or the longer periods of dark skies and inclement weather from larger events, like tropical storms, have felt like spiritual powerhouses. I’ve long associated certain crystals with these natural phenomena, and I’d like to introduce you to three of my favorites: pietersite, fulgurite, and flint.
Pietersite (pictured top left) is a close relative of tiger’s eye. It forms under special conditions that cause it to break apart and come back together, producing a velvety, swirling effect known as chaotic chatoyance in gemology. The appearance of this stone has been likened to storm clouds since at least the 1980s, earning it the nickname of “tempest stone.” Pietersite is a gem that enhances perception, helping us take a step back from the chaos of life to look for meaning, truth, and magic. It helps you channel that sense of personal truth and conviction into all that you do, providing a sense of inner power. I’ve always thought of it like the eye of the hurricane: an inner clarity that persists no matter what might be happening around you.
Fulgurite (pictured top right) is another stone perfect for connecting with the transformative symbolism of the storm. It forms when lightning strikes the earth, melting sand or rock to create hollow, glassy tubes. Fulgurites form in an instant; their inner core is empty because the earth itself is vaporised. Since they cool rapidly, a noncrystalline glass is left behind. Fulgurite, sometimes called petrified lightning, is the literal byproduct of a storm, it helps us harness our own creative power to touch down, leaving its mark in the form of action, innovation, and creation–even when the goings on all around us are distracting, challenging, or chaotic. The hollow center reminds us to find stillness and clarity, emptying ourselves of worries, distractions, and attachment to outcome.
Flint (pictured bottom center) is one of my favorite stones for healing, power, and protection. Flint arrowheads and axes have long been called thunderstones across many cultures, languages, and time periods. There was once a widespread belief that they formed not unlike fulgurites, created when lightning struck–of raining from the heavens with the rumbling of thunder. Flint has a reputation for protecting against storms, and perhaps this is a result not only of its mythic origins, but also from its stabilizing, earthy influence. Flint keeps us grounded amidst change, and it helps us harness our focus to ignite meaningful action and healing in our lives.
There are so many wonderful ways to tap into the positive symbolism and raw power that storms offer. Meditate with one of the crystals above and visualize the swirling winds, rain, and lightning of the storm clearing out any obstacles you are facing. Place a storm stone near the entrance to your home to help you keep the tempests of life at bay and maintain your home as a sanctuary. Keep one in your pocket to help you find the eye of the storm within so you don’t succumb to the chaos of life when things get busy or challenging.
You can read all about these three crystals (and 447 more!) in Crystal Basics Pocket Encyclopedia. Click here for more info about this book.
