It is believed that that baalstei might be potentially more dangerous than even the firestones. For in the Beginnings is told of an utterly black place that is at once the negation of all things and paradoxically also their source. Out of this place may come the fire and light of the universe itself. It is said that the Baaloch, Angra Mainyu, before he was imprisoned on the world of Damoom, used a great black gelstei to destroy whole suns in his war of rebellion against the Galadin and the rule of the Ieldra.
THE PURPLE
The lilastei are the stones of shaping and making. They are a bright violet in hue, and are cast into crystals of a great variety of shapes and sizes. Their power is unlocking the light locked up in matter so that matter might be changed, molded and transformed. Thus the lilastei are sometimes called the alchemists' stones, according to the alchemists' age-old dream of transmuting baser matter into true gold, and casting true gold into a new Lightstone. The purple gelstei's greatest effects are on crystals of all sorts: but mostly those in metal and rocks. It can unlock the crystals in these substances so that they might be more easily worked. Or they can be used to grow crystals of great size and beauty; they are the stone shapers and stone growers spoken of in legend. It is said that Kalkamesh used a lilastei in forging the silustria of the Bright Sword, Alkaladur. Some believe the potential power of the purple gelstei to be very great and perhaps very perilous. Lilastei have been known to 'freeze' water into an alternate crystal called shatar, which is clear and as hard as quartz. Some fear that these gelstei might be used thus to crystallize the water in the sea and so destroy all life on earth. The stone masters of old, who probed the mysteries of the lilastei too deeply, are said to have accidentally turned themselves into stone, but most believe this to be only a cautionary tale out of legend.
THE SEVEN OPENERS
If man's purpose is seen as in progressing to the orders of the Star People, Elijin and Galadin, then the seven stones known as the openers might fairly be called greater gelstei. Indeed, there are those of the Great White Brotherhood and the Green Brotherhood who revered them in this way. For, with much study and work, the openers each activate one of the body's chakras: the energy centers known as wheels of light. As the chakras are opened, from the base of the spine to the crown of the head, so is opened a pathway for the fires of life to reconnect to the heavens in a great burst of lightning called the angel's fire. Only then can a man or a woman undertake the advanced work necessary for advancement to the! higher orders.
The openers are each small, clear stones the color of their respective chakras. They are easily mistaken for gemstones.
THE FIRST (also called bloodstones)
These are a clear, deep red in color, like rubies. The first stones open the chakra of the physical body and activate the vital energies.
THE SECOND (also called passion stones or old gold) These gelstei are gold-orange in color and are sometimes mistaken for amber. The second stones open the chakra of the emotional body and activate the currents of sensation and feeling.
THE THIRD (also called sun stones)
The third stones are clear and bright yellow, like citrine; they open the third chakra of the mental body and activate the mind.
THE FOURTH (also called dream stones or heart stones) These beautiful stones - clear and pure green in color like emeralds -open the heart chakra. Thus they open one's second feeling, a truer and deeper sense than the emotions of the second chakra. The fourth stones work upon the astral body and activate the dreamer.
THE FIFTH (also called soul stones)
Bright blue in color like sapphires, the fifth stones open the chakra of the etheric body and activate the intuitive knower, or the soul.
THE SIXTH (also called angel eyes)
The sixth stones are bright purple like amethyst They open the chakra of the celestial body located just above and between the eyes. Thus their more common name: theirs is the power of activating ones second sight. Indeed, these gelstei activate the seer in the realm of light, and open one to the powers of scrying, visualization and deep insight.
THE SEVENTH (also called clear crowns or true diamonds) One of the rarest of the gelstei, the seventh stones are clear and bright as diamonds.
Indeed, some say they are nothing more than perfect diamonds, without flaw or taint of color. These stones open the chakra of the ketheric body and free the spirit for reunion with the One.
THE LESSER GELSTEI
During the Age of Law, hundreds of kinds of gelstei were made for pur poses ranging from the commonplace to the sublime. Few of these have survived the passage of the centuries. Some of those that have are:
GLOWSTONES
Also called glowglobes, these stones are cast into solid, round shapes resembling opals of various sizes - some quite huge. They give a soft and beautiful light. Those of lesser quality must be frequently refired beneath the sun, while those of the highest quality drink in even the faintest candlelight, hold it and give back in a steady illumination.
SLEEP STONES
A gelstei of many shifting and swirling colors, the sleep stones have a calming effect on the human nervous system. They look something like agates.
WARDERS
Usually blood-red in color and opaque, like carnelians, these stones deflect or
'ward-off psychic energies directed at a person. This includes thoughts, emotions, curses - and even the debilitating energy drain of the black gelstei. One who wears a warder can be rendered invisible to scryers and opaque to mindspeakers.
LOVE STONES
Often called true amber and sometimes mistaken for the second stones of the openers, these gelstei partake of some of their properties. They are specific to arousing feelings of infatuation and love; sometimes love stones are ground into a powder and made into potions to achieve the same end. They are soft stones and look much like amber.
WISH STONES
These little stones - they look something like white pearls - help the wearer remember his dreams and visions of the future; they activate the will to manifest these visualizations.
DRAGON BONES
Of a translucent, old ivory in color, the dragon bones strengthen the life fires and quicken one's courage - and all too often one's wrath.
HOT SLATE
A dark, gray, opaque stone of considerable size - hot slate is usually cast into yard-long bricks - this gelstei is related in powers and purpose, if not form, to the glowstones. It absorbs heat directly from the air and radiates it back over a period of hours or days.
MUSIC MARBLES
Often called song stones, these gelstei of variegated, swirling hues record and play music, both of the human voice and all instruments. They are very rare.
TOUCHSTONES
These are related to the song stones and have a similar appearance. However, they record and play emotions and tactile sensations instead of music. A man or a woman, upon touching one of these gelstei, will leave a trace of emotions that a sensitive can read from contact with the stone.
THOUGHT STONES
This is the third stone in this family and is almost indistinguishable from the others. It absorbs and holds one's thoughts as a cotton garment might retain the smell of perfume or sweat. The ability to read back these thoughts from touching this gelstei is not nearly so rare as that of mindspeaking itself.
BOOKS OF THE SAGANOM ELU
Beginnings
Mendelin
Sources
Ananke
Chronicles
Commentaries
Journeys
Book of Stars
Book of Stones
Book of Ages
Book of Water
Peoples
Book of Wind
Healings
Book of Fire
Laws
Tragedies
Battles
Book of Remembrance
Progressions
Sarojin
Book of Dreams
Baladin
I
dylls
Averin
Visions
Souls
Valkariad
Songs
Trian prophecies
Meditations
The Eschaton
THE AGES OF EA
The Lost Ages (18,000 - 12,000 years ago)
The Age of the Mother (12,000 - 9,000 years ago)
The Age of the Sword (9,000 - 6000 years ago)
The Age of Law (6,000 - 3,000 years ago)
The Age of the Dragon (3,000 years ago to the present)
THE MONTHS OF THE YEAR
Yaradar
Marud
Viradar
Soal
Triolet
Ioj
Gliss
Valte
Ashte
Ashvar
Soldru
Segadar
Table of Contents
The Lightstone
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
APPENDICES
HERALDRY
THE NINE KINGDOMS
FREE KINGDOMS
THE DRAGON KINGDOMS
THE GELSTEI
THE GREATER GELSTEI
THE SEVEN OPENERS
THE LESSER GELSTEI
BOOKS OF THE SAGANOM ELU
Book of Water
Book of Wind
Book of Fire
Book of Remembrance
Book of Dreams
THE AGES OF EA
THE MONTHS OF THE YEAR
The Lightstone Page 110