Smoky Quartz is a colored gemstone from the quartz family, with a range of smoky colors and metaphysical properties. Its transparency ranges from dark to opaque varieties and so it can be cut into many styles such as emerald shapes, row cut shapes, round shapes and more. Translucent varieties can produce a stunning appearance on the faceted exterior, depending on the cut. Wearing it in its many forms can bring calmness to negativity and overall improvement Smoke quartz is actually the national ornament in Scotland. It was originally found in the Cairngorm Mountains which gave it the Scottish name "cairngorm". The one found in Scotland that turned a very dark color was referred to as "morion" and was used for prominent jewelry. However, Scotland is not the only location around the world. Smoke quartz was not only used in Scottish jewelry, but all over the world in places like China where it was the material of choice for snuff boxes and in ancient Rome where it was used in special indented seals. The Sumerians cut and engraved quartz to make ringed seals which means that quartz smoke was very likely one of the first gemstone materials used in writing. The Egyptians used it to make stones for jewelry, beads and their famous Scarab figures. Near another set of mountains in Colorado called Pikes Peak, small deposits of smoky quartz have been mined. Madagascar produces small commercial quantities and since 1985 quartz smoke has been found in places such as Russia, Switzerland and Ukraine. The current source for the majority of smoky quartz worldwide is Brazil.
Energy healing properties:
Quartz smoke is known to dispel fear or negativity and eliminate depression. It can be used to provide emotional balance, remove anxiety or stress and at the same time promote positive thoughts. For those who suffer from nightmares, it can remove them and replace them with manifestations in your dreams. It is commonly used as a multivitamin for the soul, neutralizing negativity and promoting positivity in all things be it stress, excitement or anxiety. Because of its darker, more masculine color, it is often associated with the Earth and nature. Thus, smoky quartz gemstones have traditionally been associated with relieving pain and stress through reconnecting with the Earth and nature, something that remains true today. These stones are used to relieve physical pain especially in parts of the body where you carry a lot of tension. It is quite common in modern Shamanic rituals to include a smoky quartz crystal in a medicine bundle. These crystals are rubbed on the affected body area to remove any disease or placed on the painful body area to help balance the body's conditions and remove any blockages that are causing the injury.
