A couple weeks ago, I was sleeping soundly when I woke suddenly. I felt a very strange sensation, and out of instinct, I sort of pushed with my hands and shook my body as if trying to get something off of me. I rolled over, a little groggy still from waking, and saw a shadow sort of hovering in the corner of my room.

What I did next was again out of instinct, but I find it rather curious... I pointed at the shadow and said "Dissipate", almost as if issuing a command, although I have no idea why I'd say that specifically. After this, the shadow faded away and in just moments I drifted back to sleep.

As I was sleeping before this all happened, I honestly wasn't sure for a couple days if this incident was real or a dream. It took me a few days to decide, but it was nagging at me too much to leave it be. I still keep replaying it in my head. I have no idea what this shadow was or what it was doing when it woke me, but what I find most interesting is my instinctual reaction. I don't know where that all came from. Dissipate isn't a word I would normally use so I'm baffled as to why I'd use that word. I'm also completely astonished as to how quickly I was able to fall asleep afterward.

I've ALWAYS been afraid of the dark. In the past, when something strange would happen at night, I'd be so terrified that I'd not be able to sleep for days or even weeks afterward. My calm after this event is new to me. Even now, looking back over all of this, I feel a sense of peace and even accomplishment more than fear. In some way I feel comforted to know that even when I'm not fully awake, I'm able to protect myself. What I protected myself from exactly seems to matter less(a little) than the knowledge that I did though.

Tiger Iron is a combination of Hematite, Red Jasper and Tiger's Eye so it carries the metaphysical properties of all three of these, plus a few of it's own. Over the past few years, it has become one of my most relied upon stones, and in fact is one of the first stones I started working with when I discovered my affinity toward using them for healing and other magical/metaphysical purposes.

Tiger Iron is extremely helpful for dealing with family stress and emotional burnout. My first encounter with tiger iron was shortly before my father died, and it really helped me deal with the loss. There were many nights I sat holding my tiger iron sphere, just letting it draw the emotional turmoil out of me.

It is helpful for people who are chemically sensitive and those who are sensitive to noise pollution as well. It's a fantastic stone for grounding and centering and will help bring clarity to difficult situations. It also promotes creativity and helps bring out your inherent talents. I find that it helps build self confidence and will power, and in this way makes you more confident to use your talents also.

As with most stones, tiger iron needs occasional cleansing. It would be beneficial to set it in the sunlight for cleansing and recharging. The tiger's eye component of this stone is connected to the sun, so this would be the preferred method for both and is one of the simplest methods.

This stone is very close to my heart, as it is helpful to me in so many ways, and I would recommend it for anyone looking for some stability. After researching this stone yet again to write this, I've found even more reasons I should have this one with me nearly all the time. I hope you'll find it as beneficial as I have.


Source: "The Encyclopedia of Crystals" by Judy Hall