“Gemstones have been used for thousands of years for healing, protection, decoration, physical adornment, magic and in religious ceremonies.” (Ilse Truter, 2006). They can be used as treatment for emotional and physical pain, or to cleanse one’s aura. Each gemstone holds its energy and produces therapeutic properties.
“Invaded” is a virtual reality piece of emotional and physical responses using gemstones. I created six abstract animations to evoke negative feelings such as anger, fear, anxiety, depression, stress, and physical pain. These animations are my interpretations of what each feeling looks and sounds like. The virtual reality construction of “Invaded” provides an overwhelming sensory and auditory experience of common negative attributes.
Amethyst, Aquamarine, Black Tourmaline, Smoky Quartz, Rose Quartz, and Dumortierite are the gemstones I chose to counteract negative feelings due to their beneficial healing properties. Amethyst calms and relaxes the nerves, reducing anxiety. Aquamarine assists in pain relief and eases the pain associated with arthritis and headaches. Black Tourmaline is known for protection, shielding negative energies and fearful thoughts. Smoky Quartz is a powerful cleanser and detoxifier that brings strength and stability as it provides a shield against emotional stress and is used in healing and meditation. Rose Quartz is known as the love stone and deters feelings of depression and sadness. Dumortierite is known as the stone of patience, stabilizing emotions and reducing levels of aggression and anger.
My goal is to make the audience feel trapped within these animations, exposing them to negative feelings. I am intrigued with the history and use of gemstones and their healing benefits. I wanted to show a visualization of how gemstones can be used to bring relief and hope to those with emotional and physical distress. Rather than avoiding those negative feelings, I want to acknowledge them but juxtapose them with positive feelings through the power of gemstone therapy.
My intent for this piece is to raise awareness for mental and physical health as well as provide empathy to those who are struggling. In today’s society, natural healing is growing in popularity. People are becoming more attuned to natural remedies and treatments as opposed to medicinal. Therefore, I want this piece to inspire others to learn more about gemstones and their therapeutic properties.