Fluorite is a lovely crystal that comes in a variety of colors. In this inaugural post of Crystal Crumbs, a series on the many crystals we meet in witchcraft, let's meet fluorite and her many faces.
Chemical Makeup
Fluorite is a halide mineral, meaning it is composed primarily of an anion of a halogen gas. Other examples include halite, which you may know as rock salt or NaCl! Cl- is an anion of chlorine. In fluorite's case, its chemical makeup is CaF2, with fluoride (F2) being the dominant anion.
Fluorite forms primarily in cubic shapes, but it can also form in octahedrons, or other complex isometric shapes. Fluorite ranks at 4 on the Mohs hardness scale, and is in fact the reference mineral for that level. This means it is harder than calcite, but is easily scratched by quartz and other harder minerals.
Pure fluorite is colorless like quartz, but chemical impurities give it a wide spectrum of possible colors, which fluorite is prized for in lapidary and jewelry-making. These impurities can include:
iron
manganese
rare earth elements like yttrium, cerium, samarium, thulium, etc
uranium
radioactive interference and heat during formation
hydrocarbons
Natural Companions/Lookalikes
Because fluorite comes in many colors, including colorless, it can often be mistaken for other minerals. Additionally, because it primarily grows in voids in hydrothermal vents and hot springs, it is often a companion to other minerals. These companions include:
quartz
calcite
baryte
sphalerite
galena
pyrite
dolomite
chalcopyrite
muscovite
quartz (especially amethyst)
rhodochrosite
Lookalikes include:
halide (similar shapes and composition)
calcite
tourmaline
History
Fluorite has been known to many civilizations for centuries, primarily for its use in decoration. Pliny the Elder described it in Naturalis Historia as a purple-and-white mottled stone, and it is believed that a mineral described in Sanskrit alchemical texts called vaikrānta may refer to fluorite. However, it truly rose to prominence in 16th century Germany, when scientist Georgius Agricola described it in his works on mineralogy and metallurgy. In iron smelting, fluorite is used to reduce the viscosity of slag, giving rise to its name, coming from Latin fluere, to flow. In his work, Agricola originally named it "fluorspar", a name still used today in industrial contexts. In 1852, fluorescence was discovered through the use of UV light on fluorite, and the element fluorine was also named after it.
Other Names
fluorspar (original name, industrial context)
murrina/myrrhina (classical studies, archaeology)
flourite
several other synonyms, available on mindat.org
Traditional Uses
Fluorite has been used in traditional Chinese medicine, labeled as a spirit-calming stone. It has also been used as a decorative stone for thousands of years across ancient Rome and Egypt. Fluorite has seen uses symbolically to improve blood flow (owing to its name), dental health (fluoride is a known element necessary for teeth), as well as generally calming and balancing several systems.
Modern Uses
In mundane life, it is used in optics to create lenses, and high-purity fluorite is often used as a source of hydrofluoric acid and pure fluorine gas. Magically, fluorite is a popular choice for focus, clarity, and purification, owing to its associations with intellect and "flow". It is used by many holistic practitioners for purposes relating to the joints, muscles, bones, and teeth.
Correspondences
Stability
Zodiac: Libra, Capricorn, Pisces
Numerology: 7
Planet: Mercury
Element: Air, Water
Magical uses:
Peace
Purification
Focus/concentration
Clarity
Spiritual and psychic development
Psychic shielding
Grounding
Cleansing
Teaching, studying, learning
Alternatives
Don't have access to fluorite, or not interested in buying new crystals but using what you have? Try some of these crystals that carry some of the same properties:
Fluorite functions well on its own, but it can also be paired with other crystals and various herbs/botanicals for specific properties.
quartz: amplification of fluorite's focus and clarity
amethyst: amplification of psychic and spiritual development/protection
black tourmaline: grounding and shielding
selenite: purification of environment and energy
labradorite: intuition and communication
calcite: emotional and mental harmony
lepidolite: anxiety relief
moldavite: spiritual transformation
rose quartz: adds compassion and love to mental focus
pyrite: adds willpower to mental focus
lavender: adds calming and peaceful energy
cinnamon: accelerates workings and brings willpower and manifestation to your focus
thyme: cleansing and balancing
rosemary: amplifies mental clarity and purification, protection
bay leaf: set intentions for your newfound focus, protection
sage: wisdom and mental clarity, purification
You can also choose crystals and herbs that align elementally or zodiacally with your purposes.
Extra
Cleansing/charging notes:
Please be aware that fluorite is not safe to submerge in water for extended periods of time, as it contains toxic fluorine. You should also refrain from contact with salt, and do not drink water that has had fluorite in it. Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight, which can fade the colors of the crystal. Otherwise, cleanse and charge your fluorite in any way that you prefer.
Please remember that these posts do not constitute medical advice and are purely for entertainment and spiritual purposes.
For context, this is Jewish actor Miriam Margolyes. A self-identified dyke,she was professor sprout in the harry potter movies but she's been extremely prolific over five decades. She's pro trans and pro Palestinian.
the more educated you get on fat issues the more you realize that almost everything that supposedly justifies fatphobia is actually complete bullshit.
most of the health conditions that are treated as almost divine punishment for being fat (like heart issues and diabetes) are being revealed to actually *cause weight gain* instead of being caused *by* it.
this goes for social 'consequences' of being fat, too. is that "neckbeard" redditor actually fat because he spends all his time online, or is it that he spends all of his time online because he's not treated like a person if you can see that he's fat, so the internet is his best option?
everything is less accessible to fat people. seats on busses, at restaurants, and even at things like amusement parks, are frequently too small to comfortably sit in for a fat person. people treat you worse if you're fat, or even try to avoid you entirely. you get judged for doing leisure activities, or even for exercising at a public gym, (which proves the claims of trying to motivate you to get fit are bullshit btw) getting filmed and laughed at, posted online for your body to be a punchline.
if you want to be progressive or body positive you *need* to be examining your beliefs. oppressed people are routinely forced into positions that, from the outside, may justify the narrative about these people. black folk are pushed into poverty, so that crime is often their only means of survival, enforcing the idea that black folk are criminals. queer folk are made unsafe in public so that we use codes to identify each other, enforcing the idea that queer folk are trying to secretly seduce people to be gay. and yes, fat folk are forced indoors and online so that they can enforce the narrative that we are lazy shut-ins.
#if you are skinny you need to take an interest in this#get involved with fat liberation#start fighting people on fatphobia#get mad at them when they are casually fatphobic around you because youre thin#make them afraid#defend your fat friends
Extremely excellent, very very very autistic quote from Brennan Lee Mulligan:
"Curiosity is love for the world, and when you love something, you want to get to know it more. So when you share facts about crows or pterodactyls or whatever, what you are expressing is gratitude for the ability to exist in and come to understand the beauty of the world around you."
"When you tell someone that you don't like all the crow facts, you're...
"You're actually saying that you hate me. I am my crow facts."
baratheonpilled
jbbartram-illu
izzy806
dededos
