Hematite is a grounding stone that is mostly used for protection and stability. The word "hematite" is derived from a Greek word that means "blood." As a result, it has been employed as a talisman against excessive blood flow.

Hematite is a kind of iron ore that is made up of iron oxide crystals. It has a metallic sheen and comes in a variety of colours ranging from black to grey and silver, as well as reddish-brown variations.

The most effective grounding stone, hematite, promotes stability and protection. When natural, it's opaque red or grey, and when tumbled, it's grey with a mirror-like shine. Hematite is a natural stone that is often used to balance and support the healing of your body and your home. The dark colour can be used to protect and absorb any negative energies in your home. It's also connected with the root chakra, so it's grounding and stabilizing.

If you find yourself drawn to the silver sheen of the Hematite stone, or the rusty red hue that lurks beneath, then it could be a sign that you need to feel more grounded. Hematite's energy is palpable, and your intuition can hear its call from a mile away. 

Renowned for being a crystal that anchors you to mother nature, Hematite chakra work can be spiritually profound. It breathes peace and balance into all the body's energy centres, but it holds the root chakra in particularly high regard.

Hematite symbolizes the core of the planet. It ties you to it so that no matter how far your mind wanders, you can always find your way back home. A Hematite stone will raise your confidence levels and reward your self-assurance. It's famed for its powerful healing properties which are excellent at removing negative energy and transforming it into something you can use for good.

HEMATITE : MEANING

Hematite has been linked to magic and blood for over three thousand years. It was utilized in both the delivery bed and the battleground to reduce excessive bleeding. Farmers and magicians used it to protect themselves against curses and spells, and it's always been a stone that keeps the person firmly anchored.

Throughout history, Hematite has been known as a stone of great healing power and also for its ability to serve as a protective cloak. Far back in history, the stone was considered to be an early form of a mirror due to its reflective sheen. It was also ground down into powdered pigment for artists – even used by prehistoric man for etching his ideas on the walls of caves. It was smeared onto the faces of Native Americans and used as war paint. In its full form, Hematite adorned the tombs of the pharaohs.

Hematite is a powerful stone. Incorporate it into your life, home, and work spaces in order to facilitate grounding, a better sense of self, and firmer boundaries.

Hematite is a very grounding and balancing stone, often used to help connect one back to the body. Because of this, it can be used to maintain a connection to the physical body and to the earth when doing spiritual work.

Hematite can also be helpful in reminding you to take care of your physical body, making sure your needs for things like food, water, and sleep are met. It has also been used to balance energy meridians in the body. It’s also very beneficial for the mind, helping to enhance memory and other mental abilities.

Hematite has a calming effect, making it a helpful stone for addressing repetitive and unhelpful thought patterns. Working with hematite can help uncover limiting thoughts that may be blocking you so that you can move past them. Hematite can also absorb and transmute negative energy, and it can assist you in seeing the positive side of situations.

HEMATITE : HEALING PROPERTIES

The Hematite stone benefits are nearly endless. If you decide to introduce this crystal into your life, you may want to keep some of them in mind.

PHYSICAL HEALING

We've already covered the connection between the Hematite stone and blood. It's thought that keeping a Hematite stone nearby can strengthen the circulatory system and bring about a healthy flow of blood – and energy – around the body. This is one of the best Hematite benefits for anybody that suffers from high blood pressure, blood clots, heavy periods or any other blood flow issues.

The Hematite crystal is one of the best at clearing away negative energies from your mind, body and spirit. In the physical body, these energies can manifest as illness or weakness, or even something as simple as leg cramps. Hematite helps you to feel fresh and energetic, supercharging your energy so that you recover more quickly from illnesses and have a stronger immune system to protect you against potential future encounters. It also stimulates tissue regeneration.

EMOTIONAL HEALING

An excellent stone for mental clarity, Hematite is a student's best friend. It helps you hone in on any work you need to complete, enhancing your ability to concentrate and promoting logical thinking. It's been known to spark original thoughts, increasing the depths of your imagination. Innovative ideas are easier to come by when you work with Hematite. Not only this, but Hematite is famed for being able to upgrade your memory.

Hematite helps you let go of inhibitions. With this stone, nothing will stand in the way of you and success. It ramps up your willpower, giving you a deep inner conviction and driving you to pursue your dreams. It makes all your goals tangible and gives you the courage to stand up to bullies or anyone that tries to discourage you. One of the best Hematite benefits is that it won't let other people project their insecurities onto you. And if you are filled with empathy, Hematite is considered to be one of the crystals for empaths.

If you feel your emotions getting the better of you, then simply touching Hematite will bring your heart rate back down. It's a natural relaxant. Its cooling effect on the body is one of the greatest Hematite healing properties because it works any time you feel remotely agitated. Partnered with its aforementioned grounding properties, Hematite is a great stone to use to reconnect with nature. This makes it a perfect crystal for different types of jewellery, including the gorgeous Hematite Bracelet.

METAPHYSICAL

Commonly referred to as a protective stone, Hematite is said to be one of the greatest crystals for countering negative energy. It soaks it up like a sponge and prevents it from affecting your aura. You can use Hematite as a protective charm to shield your energy from danger. It's because of Hematite's powerful absorption abilities that it must be cleansed regularly.

Said to bring your inner energies into complete harmony, Hematite is a great stone for chakra work. While it primarily focuses on the root chakra, its energy extends to all those above it. It's a perfect companion for those looking to achieve self-mastery. If you're mingling with lots of people with different energies, keep a Hematite stone nearby – preferably somewhere you can have direct contact – and it will give you some much needed energy.

SPIRITUAL HEALING

A Hematite stone dissolves negativity in all its forms. It helps you relax and ground your energy in times of intense stress. Just holding a Hematite stone increases courage, tranquillity and inner strength. There's a certain weight to this powerful stone that anchors you to the present moment and pulls you out of an overthinking mind.

Its high vibration helps to heal the body on three distinct planes: mental, physical and spiritual. Transmuting negative energy through such a high vibration inevitably converts it into love, the highest of the high. It calms the mind and induces a deep inner peace.

HEMATITE AND CHAKRAS

The Hematite stone activates the root chakra, located at the base of the spine. This red energy centre is responsible for taking in energy from the earth, which is why Hematite is so highly regarded as a protection stone. It filters energy on the way into your spiritual body and acts as a crystal bodyguard for your aura. In the same sense, it's the base chakra that helps ground your energy and find inner strength; two qualities in which Hematite excels.

When compared with other base chakra healers like Smoky Quartz and Red Jasper, Hematite has the upper hand in regards to cultivating positive energy. While black stones like Obsidian, Tourmaline might be slightly stronger protection crystals, Hematite is an all-round balancing stone -- it combines the best of all the root chakra has to offer in one shiny little package.

HOW TO USE HEMATITE ?

How you use hematite depends largely on what you are trying to accomplish. The primary uses are wearing hematite, meditating with it, or placing it in strategic locations where you live and work.

If your issue is not being grounded, you can wear a hematite bracelet. Someone who is not grounded may feel spacey, or they may seem absent-minded or even ditzy. Often, people who aren't grounded lose things a lot or are very forgetful.

If this sounds like you, you can also try this grounding meditation.

• Sit somewhere you won't be disturbed with both feet flat on the floor or ground, barefoot, with your back straight.
• Hold a piece of hematite in your non-dominant hand, which is your receiving hand. If you are right handed, this will be your left hand. If you are left handed, this will be your right hand.
• Close your eyes and breathe deeply in through your nose and out through your mouth, allowing yourself to relax and focus on your breath.
• After you feel relaxed, bring your attention to the piece of hematite in your hand. Feel the energy of the hematite flow through your hand, into your arm and shoulder to your throat and then travel down your spine to your feet, which are in contact with the floor.
• Visualize the energy of the hematite pushing out through the bottom of your feet and expanding as roots into the ground.
• See the roots growing and spreading out beneath you, deeply underground.
• When you are ready, open your eyes and go about your day.

To help establish firmer boundaries, wear a hematite bracelet on the wrist of your dominant hand, or wear a hematite ring on your dominant hand, which is your giving hand.

To create balance, wear a hematite bracelet on each wrist. To promote work-life balance, place a piece of hematite at your desk.

Energize your workouts by placing a piece of hematite in the corner of your yoga mat, or keep a piece in your workout space. You can also carry hematite in a pocket while you exercise. Likewise, you can put on hematite jewellery when you get up in the morning; don't wear it to sleep because it may be too energizing and will prevent a good night's sleep. Likewise, keep hematite out of your bedroom for the same reason.