Crystal Skulls

Crystal skulls, AKA “The Mysterious Crystal Skulls,” (oooooo…..), how could I resist a FREE lecture about them at the Albuquerque Museum of Natural History and Science by Benjamin Radford, investigator for the Skeptical Inquirer, a bimonthly magazine published for “science and reason” by the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI)? Especially at Halloween. Timely! Now there’s a man who knows marketing. Radford’s new book, Mysterious New Mexico: Miracles, Magic, Monsters in the Land of Enchantment, with one entire chapter dedicated exclusively to crystal skulls, will be published by University of New Mexico Press next year. I had to go. Even if it took time away from my online completion of 45 units of continuing education to renew my California real estate license, or perhaps, especially if it took time away from . . .

Claims have been made that crystal skulls, pre-Columbian artifacts from Aztec or Maya civilizations, exhibit paranormal phenomena. Reportedly used to cast spells, see the future, will death or heal, they are often accompanied by an elusive perfume, tinkling sounds, changing colors, auras. There’s one in the British Museum (fact). However, none of the specimens made available for scientific study has been authenticated as pre-Columbian in origin. Investigations carried out on several skulls at the British Museum show that the indented lines marking the teeth were carved using jeweler’s equipment developed in the 19^th century. The type of crystal used was exclusive to Madagascar and Brazil, not obtainable, or known, in pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. The study concluded they were made in 19^th century Germany from Brazilian quartz. A detailed study of skulls in the British Museum and the Smithsonian was accepted for publication by the Journal of Archaeological Science in May 2008. Researchers concluded the skulls were made in the 1950s or later. None of the skulls in museums comes from documented excavations.

Crystal skulls have become very popular, appearing in sci-fi television series, video games, books, and in Stephen Spielberg’s 2008 movie, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. The completion of the Maya calendar cycle on December 21, 2012, ties in with the legend that the re-uniting of thirteen mystical, crystal skulls will forestall a catastrophe predicted by the ending of the calendar. In Serpent of Light, author Drunvalo Melchizedek writes that he “came across indigenous Mayan descendents in possession of crystal skulls at ceremonies at temples in the Yucatan which. . . contain souls of ancient Mayans who had entered the skulls to await the time when their ancient knowledge would once again be required.”  Timely!

Dan Akroyd, actor, musician and entrepreneurial purveyor of spirits, sells his Crystal Head Vodka in clear-glass, skull-shaped bottles, with the bottle neck and cap on top of the head (adding a look of authenticity), at $39.95 and up. . . and, skull-tini glasses (set of two) for $30. . . and, Limited Edition skull cufflinks (buy now!) in rhodium for $79. . . and, in sterling silver for $149. . . . and. . . He’s really got the marketing down. The vodka is “pure spirit” made with pristine, deep-glacial-aquifer water of Newfoundland, Canada – quadruple distilled! Free of additives, it is triple-filtered, then triple-filtered again (really) through Herkimer diamonds (I couldn’t make this stuff up!) making it as ‘PURE’ as Vodka can be. According to his website, Akroyd is a Spiritualist, a believer in what he calls the "invisible world" where otherworldly presences are a "form of reality as valid as our normal reality." For a fun time, visit www.crystalheadvodka.com. Radford autographed a bottle of Crystal Head Vodka, brought in by a fan, at the end of his presentation. Photos were taken.

In New Age Sedona, Radford states, crystal skulls have become a cottage industry. People pay $100, or more, per hour, to be in the same room with crystal skulls and meditate. For more fun, visit www.crystalskulls.com, the epitome of cottage industry – ancient, old, contemporary, activated, or Mayan crystal skulls are available. There are links to crystal skull theory, history, research, news and events. You can even “Get your own Indie crystal skull (exclusive offer),” or own a “real crystal skull activated by the rare Tibetan crystal skull." Googling “crystal skulls” reveals more exotic fare: crystal skull essences, jewelry, wands, advisor pendulums, and an adoption sale (yes!). All manner of skull crystals, with balancing, cleansing, healing properties, are available, from tourmaline to zebra jasper, tiger eye to sugilite, moonstone to moldavite, small, medium, large or bestselling, blessed by Atlantean, Peruvian, or Star-being aliens “from space” to “bring money,” “make dreams vivid,” “support empaths,” “avoid over-thinking,” so you “enjoy life in the now.”

One of the most notable crystal skulls, the “Skull of Doom,” or Mitchell-Hedges skull, was reportedly discovered by Anna Le Guillon Mitchell-Hedges, step-daughter of a British adventurer, who claimed she found the skull beneath a collapsed altar in a temple in Belize. Others present at the time have not confirmed the skull’s discovery. Nor have they confirmed Anna’s presence at the dig. According to her, she was told, by the few remaining Mayans, that “the skull was used by the high priest to will death.” She said her skull could “cause visions and cure cancer,” that she saw in it a premonition of John F. Kennedy’s assassination and used it to kill a man. Anna toured with her skull on a pay-per-view basis until her death in 2007, when she was in her nineties.

The closest the Spiritual Adventuress can come this week to connecting spiritual principles with crystal skulls is imbibing spirits from them. Happy Halloween!