“Hematite’s name literally means ‘blood stone,’ as it comes from the Greek word for blood, haima,” Van Doren says, adding that it’s long been revered by many cultures for protection. “Roman and Native American warriors would paint themselves blood-red with powdered hematite for protection in battle,” she tells mbg. As crystal expert Heather Askinosie notes, this stone can sometimes be seen with red streaks running through its surface and is known for connecting the body to the Earth. “Hematite was believed to make warriors invulnerable and give them courage and strength,” she notes, adding, that during the Paleolithic era, early humans created cave paintings with the red pigment from ground-up hematite. “When you feel like the rug has been pulled out from under you, hematite can help you get back on your feet again,” she adds. “For those times when you feel like you just can’t find your foundation, hematite will be there to support you,” Askinosie says, adding, “Its grounding energy is there to help you feel safe, centered, and secure no matter where you are or what you are confronting.” Ingredients: For mindfulness and focus, for example, Askinosie says clear quartz and azurite pair well with hematite to help you get out of your head and into your body. Van Doren adds that she likes to pair hematite with lepidolite, noting that lepidolite is “a very calming and soothing crystal and can help offset hematite’s potential over-intensity.” Rose quartz as well, she says, is a nurturing crystal that she recommends coupling with hematite. And as Askinosie adds, because hematite is a heavier crystal, it’s great for absorbing a lot of energy, but that means it needs to be cleansed more often than other crystals might. Personally, she adds, she likes to cleanse hematite in the sunlight. Aside from those points, any of your preferred methods of charging and cleansing would work here, such as smoke, sound, or even your breath. “For the earth signs, working with it enhances their natural grounded nature, and for air signs, it allows them to keep their two feet on the ground to balance out their ‘in the clouds’ nature,” she explains.
