Black Tourmaline Crystal Meaning & Properties

How are you feeling today?  Stressed? Worried? Out of sorts?  Our ancestors often felt that way, too. We live very different lives today, but some things don’t change – no matter what, there will always be times when we feel vulnerable and scared. 

When our ancestors needed to feel safe, they often turned to black tourmaline, arguably the strongest crystal for protection. Ancient people used black tourmaline to ward off demons and evil spirits while practicing magic, and it still has a place on our modern altars. Today, black tourmaline is used to absorb and transform negative energy. It supports our well-being and increases our sense of safety. 

Black tourmaline is associated with the root chakra which is responsible for spiritual and physical wellness. The crystal brings balance to your chakras and helps you feel a deeper connection to your body, calming your mind and strengthening your immune system.

Because of these qualities, black tourmaline is often suggested to people undergoing detox as a tool to help them ground themselves and restore the balance between their physical and spiritual lives.

Black Tourmaline Properties

Tourmaline has been called the most colorful crystal on earth.  It occurs throughout the world in a variety of colors, each of them with their own names and properties.  Of all of them, though, black tourmaline is the most powerful.

Black tourmaline is a particularly hard gemstone.  It often shows up with a naturally occurring perfect crystal presentation.  Black tourmaline is beautiful and strong, the perfect stone to bring balance to our hectic lives.

How to Use Black Tourmaline

Black tourmaline is magnetic and many people use it to combat EMF radiation which comes from computers and other electronic equipment. For this reason, black tourmaline is very useful at work, where it can also be useful in counteracting the negative energies that often arise from conflict at the office.

If you’re going to use black tourmaline at work, consider displaying it in a decorative bowl on part of your desk or your office where it won’t be easily disturbed by a curious co-worker.

Black tourmaline should be used in any physical space where you can benefit from its calming, reassuring energies. Many people choose to use it near their bedside or on their altar.

You can carry it with you in your pocket, but it can also make very attractive jewelry. Try wearing a black tourmaline bracelet on your dominant hand for support in your daily tasks or wear it as a necklace to help you remain positive and to promote clear-thinking.

Black Tourmaline Correspondences

• Deity: Cybele, a Roman goddess who both heals and a protects, has a natural affinity for black tourmaline.
  
• Element: Earth It’s appropriate that black tourmaline is associated with the element of earth, as the crystal both grounds and nurtures
  
• Planet: Venus
  
• Gender: Feminine Although black tourmaline is feminine, which is often associated with gentle support, it’s also very protective, like a mama bear.
  
• Chakras: Root The root chakra helps us feel grounded and secure, much like black tourmaline
  
• Astrological: Pisces Pisces are both blessed and cursed with a natural empathy that can make them particularly susceptible to negative thoughts. Black tourmaline is an excellent protector, helping to deflect and transform these energies.

How to Cleanse Black Tourmaline

Black tourmaline removes negative energy from your life, absorbing those toxic influences like a sponge. And like a sponge, the crystal needs to be cleansed and renewed periodically. This may run contrary to popular wisdom, but it does make sense – anything that removes the nasty bits from our lives must be cleaned to keep it working for us. 

One of the easiest and most effective ways to cleanse black tourmaline is to use sea salt (note:  you can also use brown rice for this). Bury your crystal completely in sea salt with the intent that the salt will absorb the negative energies the crystal has taken on.

You should give it time for it to work, about twenty-four hours. If you’re so inspired, smudge the bowl containing the crystal and the salt to strengthen the cleansing process. Once the crystal has been cleansed, rinse it carefully in clear water and throw the salt away.

You can also use salt water to cleanse black tourmaline. After blessing the vessel that you’ll use for this process, put the crystal at the bottom and add sea salt. Once you’ve added salt, add fresh water to the crystal and salt mix.

If you’re close to the beach, using fresh ocean water is a wonderful alternative. Leave your crystal in the cleansing solution for 24 to 48 hours. Once you’ve removed the crystal from the solution, rinse it and recharge it.

How to Charge Black Tourmaline

Just as black tourmaline needs to be cleansed from time to time, it also needs to be re-charged. Black tourmaline is an earth element, so burying it in the earth will, in effect, bring it home and allow it to regain its energy. You can enhance the charging by exposing the crystal to moonlight as you bury it.

Black tourmaline can also be recharged by the sun. Like most crystals, it isn’t necessary to keep it in full sunlight all day, but it is good if you can place it in contact with the earth for full power. You can also use a charging station to re-energize your crystal.