Diviners of Mystic Orbs II

Fantasy equal: Sorcerer

Since ancient times many a people strongly believe that certain rocks, stones and crystals have healing/magical/mystical properties. Properties that sound so powerful, were it true, we all would have been crystal-bearing gods today. Even though these rocks and their magical properties have no scientific bearing, I still find their purpose amongst the community of holistic healers pretty interesting. Who knows, maybe their properties have been recorded by great sorcerers from ages ago, but the means to actually unlock its powers have been lost in time.

Let us look at the most well-known of crystals as an example; the quartz crystal. From the simple google search I have done, I have found numerous sources, each describing similar and different magical properties of this beautiful crystal.

The one source, which emphasises the words ‘power’ and ‘clarity’, has the following to say about this beautiful crystal:

Quartz enhances energy by absorbing, storing, amplifying, balancing, focusing and transmitting. It channels universal energy. Quartz also enhances thoughts, as they are a form of energy. Because it directs and amplifies energy, it is extremely beneficial for manifesting, healing, meditation, protection, and channeling. It is also beneficial for storing and retrieving information of all types, as information is a form of energy pattern also. This makes them particularly good for programming. Due to its ability to balance, quartz is excellent for harmonizing and balancing one's environment. Quartz is also good for energizing other crystals.

Quartz is a stone of clarity which dispels negativity and clears away negative energy. It can be used to purify and clarify on the spiritual, mental, and physical planes. It is also powerfully protective. Quartz enhances spiritual growth, spirituality and wisdom. Because it clarifies though processes and emotions it increases inspiration and creativity. It can also help particularly with concentration, studying, and retaining what one learns. Quartz is also a stone of harmony because it balances energies, and is even helpful in romantic relationships.
http://www.crystalsandjewelry.com/metaphysical_healing/stoneinfo/quartz.html

Sorcerers, one of many magic-using classes in the world of fantasy, all wield some sort of staff to help them channel their spells and magical abilities. A staff provides the sorcerer with a focus point. When concentrated on, the magical energies of the spell the sorcerer is casting gathers at this focus point and is then released. The very tip of the staff is the focus point and in many cases the tip may be imbued with various items, like feathers, leaves, bones, teeth, but in most cases, a rock or crystal. Each of these items is specifically chosen by the sorcerer to aid him in his spell-casting ability. Leaves, like that from certain herbs and trees are generally used by Sorcerers from the schools of healing and nature. Bones and teeth tend to be used by evil Sorcerers, especially those from the school of Necromancy.

If you consider the quote stated above, there are several keywords that would identify the quartz crystal as the ideal item to imbue a Sorcerer’s staff with:

~ ‘Enhances Amplifying and Focusing’ ~ These are two very important processes during spell casting. The more you focus and amplify the spell, the greater its power and outcome would be

~ ‘Beneficial for Healing, Protecting and Channeling’ ~ Any Sorcerer worth his salt would have several spells lined up for healing and protection purposes. These kind of spells are what keeps you and your party members alive when you accidentally trod on a slumbering dragon’s toe.

~ ‘It is also beneficial for storing and retrieving information of all types’ ~ Sorcerers are walking, talking spellbooks, so it makes sense that this property would be beneficial for spell-casting durations, as well as remembering all the spells in the Sorcerer’s arsenal.

~ ‘Dispels negativity’ ~ Another must have spell/ability is to negate harmful effects. Say an evil Sorceress zaps you with a slow spell. It would be totally worth your while to have some sort of dispelling mechanism. A quartz crystal may just help you with this.

So you probably know what this whole description is coming down to, eh? It is also very similar in concept to the first post of this particular theme. We have not one, but two powerful gems in our arsenal of masculine weaponry. These remarkable gems summon flowing, magical energy. We cast a glorious spell by wielding and focusing on our unyielding rods. As we channel the spell, our gems amass our magical energies up until it reaches its full force. At its climax, our rods release our magical energies fervently. The energies, of course, bless its receiver, be it the caster himself, or a brother in arms.

The fantasy connection for this collection is the Sorcerer. He is a very similar to the Wizard, in fact I do not know the difference except in the context of a couple of PC games, like Neverwinter Nights. They are wielders of magnificent staves, garlanded with rocks of power, which makes them true to this theme. Below are prime examples of the Sorcerers amongst us today. Imagine the havoc they would be able to cause with those pairs of rocks!

"Apparently, to some degree Tolkien ties a Wizard's power to his staff. In Book II of The Two Towers, when Gandalf rides to Edoras to meet King Théoden he is explicitly asked by the doorwarden who is under the orders of Gríma Wormtongue to leave his staff at the door and move in unarmed. Gandalf persuades Aragorn to even leave his sword Andúril at the door but is reluctant to leave his staff behind, and he talks the doorwarden into letting him keep his staff. It appears as if Gandalf needed his staff to rouse Théoden from his fatalistic impotence.

Gandalf banishes Saruman from the Order of Wizards in The Return of the King by saying, "Saruman, your staff is broken", but later Saruman was still able to use his persuasive voice against the Hobbits. Earlier, Saruman accuses Gandalf of wanting to claim the staves of the Five Wizards. This notion takes further strength from The Hobbit. In many places in The Hobbit and also in The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien refers to Gandalf's staff as a 'wand'. From this, it appears Gandalf's staff is some sort of long wand. However, there is one significant event which serves to disconnect the idea that a wizard's power is somehow tied to his staff: in The Fellowship of the Ring, Gandalf is able to defeat the Balrog without the use of his staff, since the staff breaks when he destroys the Bridge of Khazad-dûm. Since the Balrog itself is a Maia, Gandalf must have retained significant power to do so. In The Two Towers, Gandalf has a new staff, made of ash."
http://www.bookrags.com/wiki/Wizard_(Middle-earth)

"Sorcerers are arcane spellcasters who manipulate magic energy with imagination and talent rather than studious discipline. They have no books, no mentors, no theories—just raw power that they direct at will. Sorcerers know fewer spells than wizards do and acquire them more slowly, but they can cast individual spells more often and have no need to prepare their incantations ahead of time. Also unlike wizards, sorcerers cannot specialize in a school of magic. Since sorcerers gain their powers without undergoing the years of rigorous study that wizards go through, they have more time to learn fighting skills and are proficient with simple weapons. Charisma is very important for sorcerers; the higher their value in this ability, the higher the spell level they can cast." http://nwn.bioware.com/players/class_sorcerer.html