Karen asked me what caused the kanji-like markings on the crystal, so I explained that they were likely left behind after another mineral had been removed. You see, when a crystal is forming, many other minerals can grow on its surface at the same time. In this case, a softer, more reactive mineral like calcite, anhydrite, or barite formed on the surface but, before being fully encased or included within the quartz, a hydrothermal fluid flowed over the quartz crystal and those minerals dissolved away. This resulted in an imprint of the former minerals known as growth-interference markings that resemble engraving. In this case, the mineral that was dissolved away was most likely anhydrite, which can form as thin blades, fans or “angel wings.” Each line on the surface represents a contact between the former anhydrite crystals and the quartz. I explained that when the fluid is hot and acidic enough, it can even dissolve some quartz material, leaving a melted or frosted appearance as well as forming deeper grooves or “stair-step” formations on the quartz crystal faces.

Gabriel saw Karen’s awe of the piece and overheard our conversation, so he brought over a substantially larger (17-pound) etched quartz crystal that would come to be known as “the Crystal Village” or “the Village Elder.” I instantly felt a connection. My arm hairs stood up on end, and I felt a wave of nostalgia and wonderment wash over me, as though I was being reintroduced to an old friend or mentor. The piece had the same crystal language etched onto its surface, with a natural point, rutile inclusions, rainbows, and (what I believe to be) calcite inclusions resembling pinwheel galaxies floating within. A rectangular section of the crystal appeared to have fallen away due to the growth-interference, leaving behind a prominent pueblo-like formation on one side. Although the crystal identified itself as the Village Elder to me, it identified itself to Karen as the Crystal Village. We believe that when addressing others formally or publicly, this crystal refers to itself using the pluralis majestatis, or “royal we,” as the representative of the Crystal Village as a whole. Therefore, it is simultaneously the Village Elder and the Crystal Village itself. Another example of the royal we that might be easier to understand is the former Queen of England. When speaking publicly or officially, she often used the royal we to speak as the voice of her people, but in private or personal settings, she would use the singular “I” that we tend to be more familiar with.

Despite my dumbfoundedness in that moment of introduction, I managed to ask Gabriel the price of this priceless (to me) treasure. I turned to Karen and let her know that this Village Elder had chosen me to be its caretaker and that I would be taking it home with me. Gabriel escorted me to the checkout while Karen and Alex stayed with the Father, rapt in deliberation about buying him to bring back to the store. My hairs stayed on end until the moment they took the Village Elder into the other room to safely pack and at that moment tears started to flow from my eyes. Then, in that same moment, Karen approached and said that the Father, which had spoken to her at first, asked for us to take not just him, but his family also. We asked Gabriel if there were any others like the two that called to us, and sure enough, Gabriel showed us the four other crystals he had from the same mine pocket that the Crystal Village came from in Diamantina, Minas Gerais.

“The Mother” had a hairline fracture along her smoky root that gave the appearance of a tree or flame climbing up her side tapering up to a slender, crystal-clear polished point. “The Daughter” and “the Son” were the smallest of the group, with fewer markings alluding to their youth. The Daughter resembled a fish or mermaid, with one end having multiple fin-like points jutting out and sparkles near the surface like fish scales. The Son had the deep smoky citrine color of the Father that tapered to a clear point like the Mother, but unlike the others it had bottle-brown tourmaline growing on one side. Of the four, these three wished to remain with the Father and Village Elder. The largest of the four, however, was on a pedestal in the corner of the room by itself, and seemingly content to remain that way. He was “the Grandfather” and had the most markings, pockmarks and the roughest appearance overall. Although we can’t be certain why the Grandfather chose to stay behind, we think he preferred to wait for Gabriel to find “the Grandmother,” while letting his family continue on their own journey.

Gabriel was moved by the messages that were coming through to us and happy to see the family stay together and go to a home like Nature’s Treasures, so he worked out a payment plan for us so we could afford to bring them back together. Gabriel took each of the five into his care one last time to wrap and package, telling us we could bring Karen’s car around and they would be ready to load into the back. When we left the venue, it was 1:11 p.m. As we continued on to our next venue, the Crystal Village continued speaking to us in the car and gave us a natural high we coined “THC” for “Tender Hearted Crystal.” The Crystal Village Elder, the Father, the Mother, the Daughter and the Son will be on display and available for communion at Nature’s Treasures’ 20th Annual Tucson Spring Trunk Show, March 21-April 12.