Black Tourmaline, also known as Schorl, is a captivating mineral renowned for its enigmatic properties and ancient lore. With its deep black hue and intriguing crystal structure, black tourmaline has fascinated humans for centuries. Beyond its striking appearance, this mineral boasts remarkable electrical characteristics, exhibiting both pyroelectric and piezoelectric behavior.
Glimpse Into History
Throughout history, various cultures have used black tourmaline for protection and spiritual purposes. Ancient civilizations such as the Egyptians, Romans, and Greeks valued tourmaline for its supposed mystical properties. They believed it could protect against negative energies and bring good luck.
In medieval Europe, it was used for protection against "evil spirits," and was often incorporated into jewelry, amulets, and talismans worn for its supposed protective properties. Similarly, in North and South America, indigenous peoples also revered black tourmaline for its protective qualities. Some tribes believed it could ward off evil spirits and negative energies, while others used it in healing rituals or as a divining tool.
Metaphysical Qualities of Black Tourmaline
Revered for its protective qualities, black tourmaline is believed to shield against negative energies and electromagnetic radiation while promoting grounding and purification. From its use in ancient rituals to its modern applications in technology and metaphysical practices, black tourmaline intrigues and inspires with its mysterious allure.
Consequently, black tourmaline is known as the “stone of transformation” and is said to assist you in releasing old patterns and beliefs that no longer serve. A powerful grounding and shielding stone, black tourmaline is said to have the power of protection from negative energies and improves your defenses against the world’s impact by promoting a sense of strength and sovereignty. It empowers you to navigate challenging environments and circumstances.
It is also one of the most popular crystals for cleansing and purifying. It aids in grounding and cleansing your energy field, constructing a psychic shield to deflect and disperse negative entities. This stone supports the purification of the body, eliminating toxic substances.
Connected with the root or base chakra, tourmaline improves physical energy and fitness by dispelling tension and stress. It helps drive out worry, fear, judgment, shame, and other toxic emotions. This stone can help you achieve your desires by releasing self-doubt and promoting power and self-confidence, giving you a clearer, more balanced view of the world. It supports your development of a positive attitude, come what may, and inspires selflessness and practical creativity.
Black tourmaline is an excellent crystal to use for EMF protection. Place a large piece of this crystal near computers or other electronics to reduce your exposure to the EMF of those devices. You can even wear a piece of black tourmaline around your neck for protection.
One peculiar aspect of black tourmaline is its unique crystal structure, which exhibits an interesting phenomenon known as piezoelectricity. Black tourmaline can generate an electric charge when subjected to mechanical stress or pressure, such as squeezing or bending. This property is quite unusual and can be harnessed in various applications, including in certain types of sensors and devices.
What’s particularly strange is that this property is more pronounced in certain directions within the crystal structure. This means that the electric charge generated can be significantly higher when pressure is applied in specific orientations. This asymmetry in piezoelectric behavior adds to the curiosity and intrigue surrounding black tourmaline and its electrical properties.