Gemstones?

[demig]

Has anyone ever tried doing anything with gemstones on?

If so, any difference?

I was reading about how different stones have different properties and stuff and wondering if it could be applied to psi.

[The Devil's Advocate]

I've worn gemstones both in necklace and in ring form. It makes exactly no difference to how my psionics work. Gemstones are rocks. They are pretty rocks, but they are rocks. All the accounts I've heard of (that I actually credit and don't read like a dime store get rich... or in this case powerful... quick scheme) require deliberate focus through a stone, and even then the results have been rather dubious.

Now, I am a geologist. I can tell you all kinds of things about the isometric properties of Calcite or diamond. I can tell you the natural state of aggregation for topaz or tourmaline. Their physical structure determines how they fracture, how they cleave, what internal structures they have. Their formation environment determines most of the flaws they have. I've yet to find anything that can reliably pinpoint mineralogical traits that have any kind of correlation to psi.

Is it impossible? No, as mentioned above there have been a few "Something happened but man was that inconclusive as all get out" style things that lead me to believe that something might be possible. I just haven't had time to do extensive study myself. Nor have I found anyone who actually publishes their study on the topic, rather than asserting opinion as fact.

~The Devil's Advocate

[demig]

Well thankyou for your quick response. It was just something I had been wondering about recently.

If I try anything I will let you know the outcome.

[The Devil's Advocate]

I look forward to seeing your results. If I should have the opportunity to try any of this I will report here.

~The Devil's Advocate

[innerfire]

The only thing I've heard about gemstones and crystals was a talk Rainsong did about how some types can be useful for storing constructs, which I want to try out at some point. I believe there were several types not as good for that, one of them being diamonds (so don't blow out your money on them ), but that's all I heard about these things.

[wolfdancer]

We had a discussion here a while back (I'm not sure where the log is right now) about crystals and their use in psionics. Like DA said, I've not heard of them being useful except as a focus or storage. Deliberate use rather than benefit from just having them around when using psi.

~Wolfd@ncer

[Stony1205]

A few years ago, I held a crystal use seminar that was pretty popular. I personally have had results when using crystals of various types, but usually of the quartz varieties. I'm not going to attempt to explain how it works, I dont have that knowledge, but I will say that I have been able to use crystals for a variety of things, mostly storage. I have larger stones that seemed to give amplification abilities, though thinking back, this violates the law of conservation of energy. Whoops. So unless the crystal is somehow transfering energy (Chemical energy in network bonds -> ?MYSTERY? -> Psi... lol) perhaps the stone is actually purifying or focusing. I stopped my work with them some time ago.

P.S. - Please excuse my terrible grammar and typing. Jazz Band was playing till 1 AM last night (this morning?) and I had marching band at 8AM. Ugh.

~ Stony

[The Devil's Advocate]

Definitely something to look into. Focusing is definitely more likely than amplifying, unless there is a way that it acts as a 'connection point' between you and ambient psi and thereby does amplify, but that is a debate for the advanced forum I think. And definitely after more experimentation. Did you find that cut/uncut matters? I only vaguely remember that discussion, I had just barely joined the site.

~The Devil's Advocate

[Stony1205]

I dont own any "cut" stones, just ones that have had the bases cleaned up and polished after being removed from the cave wall. I've heard that keeping the stones in their natural shape (usually hexagonal, yes?) improves their performance, but I haven't been able to test it. I just took it for face value because I figured it wasn't worth experimentation at that point. Maybe I'll start breaking out the old rocks again.

~ Stony

[The Devil's Advocate]

Eh, stone shape depends on the stone. Flourite is octahedral. (Not stop sign, but 2 4 sided pyramids base-to-base). Calcite is cubic (and Isometric). High pressure-temperature garnets typically form in do-decahedral crystals. It depends on the crystal and the formation. Quartz is hexagonal/trigonal (that is the body is hexagonal with a 3 sided pyramid on the top)

Now, faceting a stone does not alter its internal crystal structure unless the gemcutter makes a mistake and damages the stone. They try not to do this because it makes their gems less valuable. I may wind up doing an experiment or 3 with my stones... they're mostly cut, but I have several of various structures, and see if I can get anything out of them and if so what.

~The Devil's Advocate

[Stony1205]

My knowledge of crystals doesn't really get past the molecular level, so thanks for providing more info on shapes.

~ Stony

[The Devil's Advocate]

A lot of this does go down to the molecular level, and how the crystal latices form. In most crystal structures there are 'linked' frameworks of molecules. The way the crystal units link together determines a great deal about their properties. Olivine (peridot) is formed of isolated silica tetrahedrons. Micas the silica tetrahedrons are arranged in sheets. Quartz has a framework structure which is part of what gives it it's hardness and durability. I may have to do a "Basic mineralogy for Psions" article so folk can actually draw logical conclusions when they experiment.

~The Devil's Advocate

[pchuownsu]

ive never heard anything about this..
im an oldshcool ki user

[wolfdancer]

*restrains frustration*
To start with, we are not talking about ki here. Next point. I'm afraid 'old school' has nothing to do with this. The use of stones as an energy focus goes far back in history. I don't have time to pull up the references I need right now. Since I am certain that those involved will do their research and post the relevent information in General Psionics, D&D, or Advanced forums, I am locking this thread. The initial question has been addressed.

~Wolfd@ncer