I’ve always loved working with African crystals and minerals. The quartz crystals all seem to have an ancient and wise energy that is completely untamed. And the colors and inclusions you can find in African quartz are so complex and so lovely. It feels like a homecoming for me whenever we are blessed with crystals from Africa.

We recently received a small batch of exquisitely bright Malagasy smoky quartz crystals from a friend of ours. And boy, are we grateful to her! Each of these lovely smokies is a treasure and a delight! It’s been probably 5 years since I’ve seen smokies of this caliber come out of Madagascar, and it’s been worth the wait. Don’t be mislead by the dark color of smoky quartz into thinking that the energy is dark or slow. It’s anything but! Smoky quartz has a very joyful energy, and these African ones have such a clear and wonderful energy. Look closely at the interior, and you will often find wispy phantoms of rising smoke, like a phoenix rising from the ashes. What an amazing allegory! These stunning and lustrous crystals are from Anzorojabe, Madagascar.

This crystal reminds me of a rocket resting on the launching pad, ready for take-off. The base is made up of mostly clear quartz, while as you travel upwards, the smoky becomes more pronounced and is a rich brown shade of smoky. The "rocket" is double terminated; one end is in its natural state and the other end is partially polished. It has some lovely etchings along its side and there is a contact area where it once had contact with another crystal. If you look closely, you'll see the time links and many other small intricacies that all add to its natural beauty. Also take note that there is another very small smoky crystal protruding from the "launching pad". It has a very serene, grounding energy.

The crystal measures 2.7" x 1.95" x 0.9" and weighs 1.7 oz.

Smoky Quartz is almost a default crystal in any crystal layout. It is grounding, protective and can transform negative energy into positive energy. As one friend put it to me, Smoky Quartz is good for humans, because we are currently quite murky beings ourselves! It is a very joyful crystal. It is helpful to hold if you have other crystals that UN-ground you such as Moldavite.

Phantom crystals in Smoky are very powerful in breaking old patterns and blockages. As an elixir it can have great effect against radiation type illnesses. It purges toxicity from the major bodily organs. It is very good for reigning in wayward emotions and helps one put things into perspective. It helps keep us grounded while under great stress. Smoky also is a great boost to the bodies’ immune system...

A crystal with a rectangular face leaning to the left is called a past time link. It is believed they can be used to access information from the past. A crystal that has a right time link has a rectangular face leaning to the right. It is believed the can be used to access information from the future.