MysticalCharm.com

For thousands of years, architects have built this world.  What started as simple mud huts soon moved to stone structures and then on to taller buildings.  After a while, the act of building became common place.  It was only a matter of time before kings and nobles wanted to out do one another and make their building stand out.  Starting from before the 1st century B.C.E. into what we call the Middle Ages, architects would turn simple water spouts into Gargoyles.

The practice started in ancient Egypt where gargoyles ejected the water used to clean sacred vessels which was done on the roof of the temple.  In ancient Greece, water would pass through the mouth of a lion carved into the building out of marble.

A great number of medieval cathedrals are adorned with gargoyles.  The most famous of these is the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris.  During it’s construction, a number of gargoyles were constructed.  Some were designed to convey water, others were put in place to ward off evil spirits.  The king of France had a number of enemies at the time and ordered the architect to design every fourth gargoyle in the likeness of on of his enemies.  To this day if you look closely at the gargoyles on Notre Dame, you will notice every fourth one looks much more human than the others.

Both ornamented and unornamented water spouts were common on buildings until the early 18th century.  At that time, more and more buildings were using pipe guttering to convey water directly to street level.  In 1724, the London Building Act made pipe guttering compulsory for all new construction and gargoyles fell out of favor.

What started as a simple means to convey water took on a life of it’s own.  Next time you find yourself in a European city, take a look up and see what details you notice.

Tags: gargoyles, history of gargoyles, medieval architecture

Simply put, amethyst is a purple variety of quartz. Impurities in the quartz, such as ferric iron and possibly manganese. Somehow, science has a way of taking the mystical portion away from just about anything. Amethyst is much more than a simple crystal.

Amethyst has been a precious stone for thousands of years. The name comes from a-(not) and -methustos (intoxicated). Amethyst literally means “not drunk” since the ancient Greeks and Romans believed it had the power to keep one from feeling the effects of wine. They would make charms and drinking vessels out of amethyst believing it could keep them from getting drunk.

There are stories about how amethyst got it’s purple color. Most involve Dionysis (the Greek god of wine) turning a beautiful woman into crystal and then weeping tears of wine over her because of what he has done (ancient gods seem to have a very ADD quality about them) thus turning the crystals purple.

Today, amethyst and other crystals are better understood. There is no evidence to suggest that wearing an amethyst crystal will keep you from getting a hangover, but there is evidence that amethyst works in concert with your bodies natural electromagnetic field to induce healing and tranquil feelings. Amethyst can also be used in meditation to channel your thoughts and open blocked energy paths.

Whatever your feelings, amethyst is a beautiful crystal with more than it’s fair share of mystery and romance.

Mystical Charm hopes you have a wonderful holiday season full of fun and family.

Tags: amethyst, crystal jewelry, healing crystals, quarts

For a number of years, we have had stories of people with superhuman powers battling for control in one way of another.  We have Superman, Spiderman, Batman, Wonder Woman and many more.  These are stories most of us a familiar with us from comic books and movies.

Thousands of years ago, ancient people had the same thing.  They told stories of gods with superhuman powers fighting monsters and traveling to far away lands.  Each culture had it’s particular gods and stories to tell about them.  In the far north in ancient Scandanavia tales were told of Thor and his hammer, Mjollnir.

Thor’s hammer is said to have the power to level mountains.  If thrown it would return to Thor’s hand.  To wield Mjollnir, special gauntlets had to be worn and a belt that would increase the power of the hammer.  There are many stories about how the hammer was forged and not everyone agrees which is the most accurate.

Today, the stories are told in comic books and soon to be in the movies.  Thor and Mjollnir have endured the centuries and is still today a major icon.  Scandanavian people still pray to Thor just as some people pray to a saint.  The symbol of Mjollnir is found in many places all over Scandanavia, in towns and on the crest of many families of Nordic descent.

Germanic Neopagans are fond of wearing pendants depicting Mjollnir as a sign of their faith.  There has been some controversy in the United States as to it’s religious undertones since it resembles an upside down cross.  These are usually the rantings of overzealous Christians who have little or no understanding of cultures outside their small town.

Mystical Charm hopes you have a wonderful Autumn season and looks forward to your comments and insights.