{"id":8112,"date":"2013-03-07T16:36:55","date_gmt":"2013-03-07T21:36:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/themagicalbuffet.com\/blog1\/2013\/02\/24\/"},"modified":"2013-03-07T16:36:55","modified_gmt":"2013-03-07T21:36:55","slug":"crystals-jewels-stones","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/themagicalbuffet.com\/blog1\/?p=8112","title":{"rendered":"Crystals, Jewels, Stones"},"content":{"rendered":"

We just got done talking about the 2012 Claude \u201cI\u2019m a Bad Mutha\u2019\u201d Lecouteux\u2019s \u201cA Lapidary of Sacred Stones\u201d. Now we\u2019re going to talk about a reprint of Isidore Kozminsky\u2019s 1922 \u201cCrystals, Jewels, Stones: Magic & Science\u201d, along with what the publisher calls a \u201cpreface\u201d but it\u2019s more like a mini book called \u201cCrystals and the New Age\u201d by Stuart Weinberg. What will 1922 Kozminsky be like versus Lecouteux\u2019s 2012 Medieval lapidary? You\u2019ll have to wait to find out because we\u2019re starting with Stuart Weinberg\u2019s \u201cCrystals and the New Age\u201d.<\/p>\n

Stuart Weinberg is in a unique position to write about crystals, gems, and minerals. He\u2019s the owner of Seven Stars Bookstore in Cambridge, MA and from the photos provided in the book, Weinberg carries an insane selection of crystals and precious stones. Sadly, I\u2019ve never had the chance to shop there, but it is probably a good thing for my checking account. What\u2019s he\u2019s written is a perfect introduction, not just to Kozminsky\u2019s work, but to the crystal oriented New Age in general.<\/p>\n

Weinberg gives you an excellent and efficient introduction to chakras, astrology, and the role crystals can play in them. Then when he gets to channeling you\u2019re given a rundown on Emanuel Swedenborg, Helena Blavatsky, Alice Bailey, Edgar Cayce, and Jane Roberts and Seth. Weinberg wraps things up with a little history of crystals themselves within the New Age movement. How the movement effected the availability of precious stones, what became popular when and how. A topic I feel confident Weinberg can speak expertly on. In fact, I would have loved for that section to have been longer. Could there be a solo Weinberg crystal book in the future? If so, more history on the retail of stones please!<\/p>\n

Now it\u2019s time to take a look in the past to see what Isidore Kozminsky felt should go in his book of \u201cCrystals, Jewels, Stones: Magic & Science\u201d.<\/p>\n

$\"\"$ <\/a>Kozminsky opens explaining that a sincere attempt has been made to blend modern science with ancient occult philosophies. Obviously this is intriguing to the modern reader because the \u201cmodern science\u201d in question is from 1922. Part One is \u201cCrystal and Stones in the Bible and World Mythology\u201d. It\u2019s in here that he discusses \u201cThe Most Ancient Science\u201d astrology, the Breastplate of Judgment (which is the rewarding topic of most of the chapters of part one), and stones in mythology. One chapter titled \u201cThe Greatest Charms in the World\u201d is about the scarab. As a lady with earrings with scarabs carved into them, I will totally take \u201cThe Greatest Charm in the World\u201d title. But enough about the opening act, you totally want to hear \u201cPart Two: Precious and Semi-Precious Gems Arranged in Alphabetical Order\u201d.<\/p>\n

Just like I did with Lecouteux\u2019s lapidary, I\u2019m going to look up emerald in Kozminsky\u2019s book. When I do, I\u2019m told to see Beryl. Once I\u2019m at Beryl, listed clearly underneath is Emerald. It gives me loads of alternate spellings and mentions that one of its derivations is through the Latin Smaragdus. (Readers will remember that Emerald was listed under Smaragdus in Lecouteux\u2019s \u201cA Lapidary of Sacred Stones\u201d.) The entry also lists a few emeralds that are notable for their size. Sadly, it\u2019s not very exciting of an entry compared to Lecouteux\u2019s lapidary, but that\u2019s just because I chose Emerald. Diamond has a wealth of intriguing stories as well as factual information.<\/p>\n

Here we are at the end. Both books read, both books reviewed. Neither one is better than the other because they both have different things to offer, which I hope my reviews did a little bit to highlight. Sadly, when it comes to the land of studying crystals and precious stones, one really can\u2019t have too many reference books. And I\u2019m not just saying that to make the publishers happy. If you were starting your collection you wouldn\u2019t do too bad having these two books on the shelf.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"