LAPIS LAZULI: Artistic Thinking

Did you ever stop to wonder how and why some elements seem to decay faster than others? Why some things last longer, why some things seem to be immortal while others might not even get past this week?

I am no Scientist, yet, I like to discuss and discover. I am but a humble Pirate with a love for Crystals and History. And last week I saw something that made me think…As I was driving from one work place to the other, I stumbled upon this beautiful site. An old car, maybe from the 60’s was left to decay in a small corner, letting nature take over and build around this car something totally new. A sort of new habitat and environment where insects and other little creatures now live, a place that they have come to call home.

I saw this as an opportunity to get a crystal necklace out of my bag and take a photo for a future product post, being an artisan and seller, sites like these make for terrific and eye catching photos. And today, as I started to edit the photo, I couldn't help but think that that crystal, is millions of years old, yet the car behind it was only a few decades old. Doesn’t this make you think? Doesn’t it make you wonder? Why did something created a few years ago decay so fast? And why is this millions of year old crystal still looking for bright and beautiful?

Crystals from when liquids start to cool down and become harder. This process is called Crystallisation. Just as Rome wasn’t built in a week, natural crystals cannot be formed in a week either, they take their time. This is the beauty of Nature. Lapis Lazuli, the Gemstone that has made me think this morning, has been in record from the 7th millennium BC. Traces of it have been found in burial sites. Lapis (as it has always been known) was mined in Afghanistan where we get the best Lapis from, but now has become harder to mine due to wars. The gem was worshiped through the ages and worn by marvellous and outstanding people. But before we continue, here is some information about this beautiful crystal.

The name “Lapis Lazuli” meaning blue stone, for obvious reasons (its blue). The stone is also popularly called “Lapis” for short. The gorgeous blue colour of Lapis Lazuli has attracted the attention of artists for thousands of years. Artists have been grinding Lapis for paint since the Renaissance…those bright blue colours you see as the sea and sky…yep…Lapis!

Ancient Egyptians used it to create blue cosmetics, Cleopatra alongside many other Egyptians believed that wearing Lapis would help you communicate with the sky gods. Wearing Lapis would also guarantee safe passage to the afterlife. Cleopatra used Lapis to not only seem powerful in her life but also to make sure she stayed on top even after death. Making this a triumphant gemstone and definitely a powerful one.

And thus from the ancient Egyptians who ground Lapis to make make up from, who faceted and cut gemstones to make beautiful cabochons. To modern day Hollywood actor Robert Downy Jr. who wears Lapis Lazuli, he claims that this powerful mighty gemstone has helped him get through his addictions and recover; this proves that gems are everlasting and are here to stay. Especially with their ever growing popularity.

Lapis Lazuli isn’t that expensive, well…actually depends on the piece. But I can assure you that some pieces are definitely cheaper than buying a new car. Yet, this Lapis Lazuli necklace that costs €30 has been around from millennia, and that car behind it (costing thousands), has been here for only a few years.

But how is this still in effect? How does it not decay? I’m pretty sure there is a scientific reason to all this, but as I said before, I am no scientist…all I can conclude with is this: Mother Nature is powerful, and look at what she has created. Everlasting tokens that we can appreciate and wear. Talesman’s that have been worn by Native American Chiefs, make up and paint that has adorned Cleopatras face and used to paint Renaissance paintings (the blue used for most Holy Mary paintings was ground Lapis Lazuli). And healing tools that can help make your life better.

Nature can create and nature can destroy, just like how this car has been destroyed and over run by nature, and just like this Lapis Lazuli has been created out of intense pressure, heat and time. Nature can create and give. Yet it is not a force to be trifled with. Not a force to be messed around with. She is a force that is to be treated with respect, for when our time comes, we will be over run by nature, we will cease to be, but her treasures will remain, and out of the same dust what we will once become, new gems will be created that will last even longer.

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