Description
This beautiful St. Andrew Staurolite Cross is a complex crystal formation from Keivy, a city in the Kola Peninsula of far Northern Russia. The staurolite appears embedded in an umber and siena colored matrix of muscovite, mica and schist, which create a myriad of tiny sparkling inclusions.
Genuine Staurolite crosses are quite rare and expensive, and specimens from Kola, Russia are considered to be among those with the most desirable qualities. 
True Staurolite like this specimen easily scratches glass. Staurolite is an extremely hard, insoluble mineral formed from iron magnesium aluminum silicate, naturally occurring as reddish-brown orthorhombic crystals embedded in a matrix of metamorphic rockshigh in iron and aluminium. The high hematite content gives Staurolite crystals their characteristic reddish brown color.
Hematite is a reddish-brown mineral, also known as ferric oxide, an important variety of iron ore. Hematite comes from the Greek words “haimatites lithos” or “bloodlike stone”.
The name Staurolite comes from the Greek words “stauros” (cross) and “lithos” (stone) meaning “stone of the cross”.
The name is appropriate because Staurolite crystals often appear in twin cruciform formations, in the shape of a Greek cross, with a 90 degree angle between the arms, or in the shape of a St. Andrew’s cross, with a 60 degree angle between the arms. A saltire, Saint Andrew's Cross, or crux decussata is a heraldic symbol in the geometrical form of the diagonal cross upon which St. Andrew was said to be crucified. Staurolite cruciform twins have been worn by religious devotees through the ages, and are renowned as sacred natural objects, invested with the power to heal, bring good luck and transform the soul.
Staurolite is known as the Fairy Stone or Fairy Cross, and was said by some to be the crystallized tears of fairies, bereft on hearing the news of Christ’s crucifixion and death.
Another legend has it that Staurolite was used to heal Richard the Lionhearted during his Crusades in the Middle East, when he suffered from malaria.
Present day crystal healers have used Staurolite to ground an individual with a tendency to “float away” from the material world, or to be lost in abstract realms of mental ratiocination. Staurolite has also been used to treat depression, fevers, addictive personality traits and symptoms of stress.
Metaphysical rock collectors, crystal healers, and Lightworkers who are conscious of their connection to the Angelic Hierarchy may especially prize Staurolite’s strong connection to Arachangel Michael. Because of Staurolite’s high hematite content and its characteristic reddish-brown color, Staurolite has a natural affinity with Archangel Michael.
Esoteric Christianity makes a link between hematite and Archangel Michael, and a crystal containing hematite can provide the bearer with a powerful connection to Michael, providing access to the Archangel's loving wisdom and power to dissolve illusion through the activity of his famous sword, the sword of Ultimate Truth.
During the Fall, when sensational meteor showers, largely composed of iron, traditionally streak across the night sky, Esoteric Christian philosopher Rudolph Steiner’s clairvoyant vision saw the traditional flashing iron sword of Michael, who presides over the Fall season. The meteoric sword of Michael was thought to cleanse the Earth’s atmosphere of summer's sulfurous influences, allowing the Higher Self to emerge and guide the initiate along the path of Spirit toward the birth of the Inner Christ Light, an event which takes place in December, during the festival of Christmas.
For more information on Michaelmas, see our article entitled Libra Festivals: Michaelmas, Rosh Hoshanah, Ramadan and Navratri.
Archangel Michael is known to crystal healers and Lightworkers as the dispeller of all negativity, the strong sword and shield of the Heavenly Hosts, and the Angelic protector of humanity, endowed the ability to banish all dark spirits. Michael's stone of strength, hematite assists in the transformation of any and all negativity held in body, mind or heart into the purity of the universal light of love.
Put this Staurolite Cross on your altar, on your night table, or on your desk at work to establish an energetic zone of protection and call in the presence of Archangel Michael to bless your space during meditation, healing sessions, sleep and dreamtime and throughout working hours.
We often use crystals for psychic protection, purification and to clarify things of a spiritual nature. See our article on Psychic Self Defense for more information along these lines with many suggestions on how to protect yourself from unwanted energies.
You can read more about crystals in our article Using Quartz Crystals in Digital Technology, Healing and Meditation or you can read about The Crystal Wisdom of Marcel Vogel and crystal healing in our Vogel Archives along with edited chapters of his unpublished book, given to Satya Center from Marcel Vogel's family.
This crystal has been cleaned and charged with Universal Life Force Energy, and given an energetic attunement using Reiki, a Japanese technique of energy healing so it will continue to channel and transmit Universal Life Force Energy direct from the Source of Creation. It is ready for you to program according to your own needs and desires.
Read more about quartz and other types of crystals and gemstones at the Crystalpedia. Check out our FREE e-book Spirits of Stone: A Lightworker's Guide to Crystals and Gemstones for Healing and Meditation for an overview of the metaphysical and mineralogical properties of quartz, and a step-by-step guide explaining how to cleanse, charge, and program quartz crystals for healing, meditation and other spiritual purposes.
Actual weight is 1.6 oz.