Black Tourmaline.

Life is a subjective experience. This is why we cannot measure spiritual experience in the same way that we can measure physics. In other words an atheist may believe there is no God but he cannot say for sure there is no relief to be found in prayer. The only way to comment on spiritual matters is to experience them- and this is the one thing an atheist cannot do.

This is why I allow myself to experiment with things that simply make no sense. I would not rely upon crystals (for instance) to effect an objective change in the world such as gaining a promotion but when it comes to the subjective world.... I need to begin at the beginning.

Last evening I was waiting for my shift to begin and killing a little time in the Covent Garden area of London. There is a quite magical shop there by the name of Mysteries. Every square inch is covered with Indian silks, incense, magical amulets, Buddhas, crystals and things that I cannot presently name. To enter this shop is to enter another world of smells and sounds that place the shopper in a state of suspended disbelief. Well.. I am a rational man and I know there is no such thing as magic.. but I described the shop as magical.. because the atmosphere it generates is magical.

It is interesting that the word 'magic' has two meanings. There is the magic of Harry Potter, broomsticks and black cats. This magic does not exist- but there is a second kind. This is a sort of emotional transport to an emotional world that is not normally open to us.

I spent some time in this cave of crystals and charms and started to talk to an attractive woman who worked there. She had the steady calm of the regular mediator (or a cult member) and I found myself tuning into her emotional state as we talked. Well.. if this was nonsense I could do with a little nonsense for at least half an hour a day. I felt more peaceful and more energised than I have for some time.

The interesting thing is that one definition of 'magic' seemed to be leading to another. I was aware that the shop was magical and colourful in the way a theatre was magical- a suspension of normal life. Yet it seemed that the crystals were working as advertised too! Each crystal is supposed to have an 'energy' that effects the user. The language surrounding this 'energy' is rather vague but it seems to amount an emotional association. I chose a Black Tourmaline bracelet that was cheap and because I wanted to please the girl. I wanted to buy a souvenir of this peculiar place and maybe take a little of its peace with me.

Which is exactly what the 'energy' of the crystal was supposed to do for me!

In other words this cave of wonders seemed to offer truth and illusion in equal measure. There is no 'cristal energy' and yet they worked as advertised. One thing the girl told me is that the body chooses the crystal it most needs. I looked up Black Tourmaline and found it was basically the crystal of Game and the Viagra of crystals for middle aged men! A few magical love charms would make great peacocking accessories. Each has their own story to tell if the conversation is flagging a little. Girls love this stuff. Maybe Black Tourmaline is just what I need.

Rather than worry is this stuff is true or false I will accept that it is true AND false. Black Tourmaline is supposed to be something of a chick magnet. If I wear it then I will be peacocking and if a hippy chick sees me she will know exactly what I am looking for. These silly stones could work despite themselves.