CRYSTAL SKULLS

My first encounter with a crystal skull was in 1989 at a Whole Life Expo in New York. That was the fall I met Max. He was strong and spiritual. We really bonded. When I held him he gave me chills. I saw all sorts of interesting patterns. We had one hour together! That was the last time I saw Max, the ancient crystal skull.

Max reportedly originated in Guatemala, then was passed from a Tibetan spiritualist to JoAnn Parks of Houston, Texas. The Parks family allows visitors to observe Max and they display the skull at various exhibitions across the U.S.

Ellie and Max


The Mitchell Hedges Crystal Skull

The most widely celebrated and mysterious crystal skull is the Mitchell-Hedges Skull, for at least two good reasons. First, it is very similar in form to an actual human skull, even featuring a fitted removable jawbone. Most known crystal skulls are of a more stylized structure, often with unrealistic features and teeth that are simply etched onto a single skull piece.

Second, it is impossible to say how the Mitchell-Hedges skull was constructed. From a technical standpoint, it appears to be an impossible object which today's most talented sculptors and engineers would be unable to duplicate.

This skull is comprised of two pieces, the cranium and a detachable mandible. Scientists have determined it was carved from one piece of clear quartz crystal. It is a nearly perfect replica of a female human skull. It presently resides with the owner, Anna Mitchell-Hedges. The measurements are as follows:


height: 5 & 3/16 inches
width: 4 & 7/8 inches
length: 7 & 7/8 inches
weight: 11 lbs, 13 oz
The Mitchell Hedges Crystal Skull is the only known crystal skull with a removable jaw.

I have read two versions about the Mitchell Hedges Crystal Skull. I will present both of them here.

View one:

Without a doubt the most famous and enigmatic piece of ancient crystal discovered to date is the Mitchell-Hedges crystal skull. One day in1927, adventurer-explorer F.A. Mitchell-Hedges was clearing debris from atop a ruined temple at the ancient Mayan city of Lubaantum, located in British Honduras, now Belize, when his seventeen-year old daughter Anna, who had accompanied him, suddenly saw something shimmering in the dust below. Anna found an exquisitely carved and polished skull made of rock crystal, with the jaw piece missing. Three months later, she located the jaw in an excavation about 25 feet from the first site.

The skull was made from a single, unusually large block of clear quartz crystal, and measured 5 inches high, 7 inches long, and 5 inches wide, weighing 11 pounds, 7 ounces. It closely corresponds in size to a small human cranium, with near perfect detail, even to rendering the skull without the globular prominence or superciliary ridges, which are characteristics of a female.

In 1970, art conservator and restorer Frank Dorland was given permission by the Mitchell-Hedges estate to submit the quartz skull to tests conducted at the Hewlett-Packard Laboratories at Santa Clara, California.

From these tests, and from careful studies done by Dorland himself, the skull revealed a whole array of anomalies. When submersed in a benzyl alcohol bath, with a beam of light passing through, it was noted that both the skull and jaw piece had come from the same quartz block. What was astounding to the testers, however, is they found that the skull and jaw had been carved with total disregard to the natural crystal axis in the quartz.

In modern crystallography, the first procedure is always to determine the axis, to prevent fracturing and breakage during the subsequent shaping process. Yet, the skull's maker appears to have employed methods by which such concerns were not necessary.

The unknown artist also used no metal tools. Dorland was unable to find signs of any tell-tale scratch marks on the crystal, under high-powered microscopic analysis. Indeed, most metals would have been ineffectual, for the crystal has a specific gravity of 2.65, and a Mohs hardness factor of 7. In other words, even a modern penknife cannot make a mark on it.

From tiny patterns in the quartz near the carved surfaces, Dorland determined the skull was first meticulously chiseled into a rough form,probably using diamonds. The finer shaping, grinding and polishing, Dorland believes, was done by applying innumerable applications of solutions of water and silicon-crystal sand. The big problem is, if these were the processes used, then, as Dorland calculated, it would mean that a total of 300 man-years of continuous labour was spent in making the skull. We must accept this almost unimaginable feat, or admit to the use of some form of lost technology in the skull's creation the likes of which we have no equivalent today.

The enigma of the skull, however, does not end with just its making. The zygomatic arches (the bone arch extending along the sides and front of the cranium) are accurately separated from the skull piece, and act as light pipes, using principles similar to modern optics, to channel light from the base of the skull to the eye sockets.

The eye sockets in turn are miniature concave lenses that also transfer light from a source below, into the upper cranium. Finally, in the interior of the skull is a ribbon prism and tiny light tunnels, by which objects held beneath the skull are magnified and brightened.

Richard Garvin, who authored a book about the crystal skull, believes the skull was designed to be placed over an upward shining beam. The result, with the various light transfers and prismatic effects, would illuminate the entire skull and cause the sockets to become glowing eyes. Dorland performed experiments using this technique, and reported the skull 'lights up like it was on fire.'

Still another finding about the crystal skull reveals knowledge of weights and fulcrum points. The jaw piece fits precisely onto the skull by two polished sockets, which allow the jaw to move up and down. The skull itself can be balanced exactly where two tiny holes are drilled on each side of its base, which probably once held suspending supports. So perfect is the balance at these points that the slightest breeze causes the skull to nod back and forth, the jaw opening and closing as counter-weight. The visual effect is that of a living skull, talking and articulating.

The question, of course, is what purpose did this serve? was it only designed by its artist as a clever toy or conversation piece, or, as Dorland believes, was the talking skull meant to be used as an oracular device, through strange phenomena associated with the crystal skull, that defy logical explanation.

Observers have reported that, for unknown reasons, the skull will change color. Sometimes the frontal cranium clouds up, looking like white cotton, while at other times it turns perfectly clear, as if the space within disappears into an empty void. Over a period from 5 to 6 minutes, a dark spot often begins forming on the right side and slowly blackens the entire skull, then recedes and disappears as mysteriously as it came.

Other observers have seen strange scenes reflected in the eye sockets, scenes of buildings and other objects, even though the skull is resting against a black background. Still others have heard ringing noises emanating from within, and at least on one occasion, a distinct glow from no known light source surrounded the skull like an aura for up to six minutes.

The sum total of the skull appears to take in all five physical senses of the brain. It changes colour and light, it emits odors, it creates sound, it gives off sensations of heat and cold to those who touch it, even though the crystal has always remained at a physical temperature of 70 degrees F under all conditions, and has even produced sensations of thirst and sometimes of taste in a few cases.

Dorland is of the opinion that what is happening in all this phenomena is that the 'crystal stimulates an unknown part of the brain, opening a psychic door to the absolute.' He observes, 'crystals continuously put out electric-like radio waves. Since the brain does the same thing, they naturally interact.' He has found, too, that periodic happenings in the crystal skull are due to the positions of the sun, moon and planets in the sky.

Researcher Marianne Zezelic agrees that the skull was primarily used to stimulate and amplify the psychic abilities in its handlers. She observes: "Crystal serves as an accumulator of terrestial magnetism. By gazing at the crystal, the eyes set up a harmonic relation stimulating the magnetism collected in that portion of the brain known as the cerebellum."

The cerebellum therefore becomes a reservoir of magnetism which influences the quality of the magnetic outflow through the eyes, thus setting up a continuous flow of magnetism between gazer and crystal. The amount of energy entering the brain eventually increases to such a proportion as to affect the poles of the brain, a region extending just above the eyes, contributing to psychic phenomena.'

Going a step further, Tom Bearden, an expert in the field of psychotronic studies, believes that, in the hands of a skilled meditator and mental focaliser, the crystal skull also served not only as a vehicle to transform life field energy into electromagnetic energy and other physical effects, but also aided in healing, by the altering of its crystalline resonance to match that of a patient's mind and body frequencies, and affecting curing energies on the skull that would manifest in the patient's auric field. The skull should thus be used as an amplifier and a transmitter of psychic and earth energy forces.

When looking at the sum total of skill and knowledge incorporated in the Mitchell-Hedges skull, modern science is stumped as to how to explain it. Author Garvin summarised the findings in these words: 'It is virtually impossible today -- in the time when men have climbed mountains on the moon -- to duplicate this achievement.

The lenses, light pipes, and prisms alone display a technical competence that the human race only achieved recently. In fact, there is no one on the globe today who could attempt to duplicate the carving. It would not be a question of skill, patience and time. It would simply be impossible.



View Two: Tuesday, September 24, 1996 (original release date) Monday, March 2, 1998 (Re-release date) Rob McConnell, Executive Producer/Host - THE 'X' ZONE Radio Show
The Mitchell Hedges Crystal Skull Hoax
Believers in the power of the Mitchell-Hedges Crystal Skull - Beware! Although they are looking at a truly magnificent ancient artifact, who origin is unknown, the age of the artifact is unknown, and the purpose of the artifact is still unknown -truly, they are mysteries of the past in a modern era. Yet, Anna Mitchell Hedges continue her never ending line of "last showings of the Mitchell-Hedges skull" throughout Ontario and the United States.

Yet, during the course of our research that was prompted after I read the autobiography of a "Mike" Mitchell-Hedges, the following discoveries were made.

The crystal skull was NOT found in 1924, 1925, 1926, or 1927 by Anna Mitchell-Hedges, the adopted daughter of Mike Mitchell-Hedges as they would like everyone to believe! The skull was actually bought by Mitchell-Hedges in 1943 at an auction at Sothebys in London, England and was purchased from one Sidney Burney. This was confirmed by notes found at the British Museum, who had someone there to purchase the skull, but the Museum could only go as high as 340 English Pound Notes - and Burney sold the skull to Mitchell-Hedges for 400 British pound notes.

Evidence to further support the discovery of the skull did not take place during the British Expedition, there are no records of the find of the Crystal Skull, nor were there any photographs of the Crystal Skull or of the adopted daughter of Mike Mitchell-Hedges in any of the photographs that were taken on that expedition. In fact Sidney Burney and people who were actually on the expedition claimed from day one, that Mitchell-Hedges did not find the skull in Lubaatun.

Mitchell-Hedges himself, according to friends, family and associates did not start talking about the skull until 1943 after the skull had been sold by Burney at the auction. The first time that the Burney Skull was mentioned was in 1936. During the lectures, seminars, and speaking engagements that Mitchell-Hedges gave between from the time he returned from Lubaatun until 1943 just prior to the sale of the Burney Skull - he never mentioned the Skull of Doom!

Why did Mitchell-Hedges create this incredible story if it wasn't true? Well, the motive behind the act was the libel suit he lost against a newspaper the Daily Express in 1928. In his own words, from his autobiography entitled, "Danger My Ally" which was published in 1955:

"I left the court with my mind in a whirl. I had been proved a liar when I was telling the sober truth. My small reputation had been blasted; many of my so-called friends knew me no more, and my faith in British justice and the ways of the law had received a blow from which - I will be frank - it has never recovered."

"I was mentally numbed. Even today the memory has power to stir me deeply. And yet...what, in the long run, does it matter? Today almost all the people who took part in the action are dead. The chief instigator on the Daily Express died miserably; the judge is dead; Sir Patrick Hastings is dead; two of their other witnesses are dead also. Only two of those who were active against me are still living."

And what do we know about Mike Mitchell-Hedges? Well, he was born in 1882 and died in 1959. He was an explorer, author, gambler and a solider with Pancho Villa in the Mexican Revolution. Mike Mitchell Hedges was undoubtedly quite a character.

As a youth he enjoyed reading books by Robert Lewis Stevenson, H. Rider Haggard, and Arthur Conan Doyle. Inspired by this authors and the tales of fascination and adventure they had spun in his mind as a youth, when he grew up, Mike Mitchell-Hedges felt as if the were driven to explore Central America and the lost continent of Atlantis - from where he believed the civilizations in Central America originated. His passion for fishing and his very active imagination helped him convince others that sea monsters of all shapes and sizes lived in the waters off of South America. These interests and belief can be found in books which he wrote including Battles With Giant Fish and Land of Wonder and Fear

We also have discovered that the lost tribe of Indians that Mitchell-Hedges claimed to have discovered were infect discovered by Balboa. We established that Mitchell-Hedges never attended Cambridge as the information that he had given the Who's Who had been fictionalized.

The rather impressive initials that he had after his name actually resulted from him having joined the London Zoological Society, enabling him to enter the zoo on Sundays. Friends and people who knew Mitchell-Hedges described him as being a "charming rogue" who led an exciting life in which the veracity was not nearly as important as adventure. At one point in his career he was labeled "the British Baron of Munchausen."

Based on exhaustive research and interviews, Mitchell-Hedges has a very low credibility rating. In his autobiography, the following is in detail what Mitchell-Hedges said about his famous crystal skull:

"We took with us also the sinister Skull of Doom of which much has been written. How it came into my possession I have reason for not revealing.The Skull of Doom is made of pure rock crystal and according to scientists it must have taken over 150 years, generation after generation working all the days of their lives, patiently rubbing down with sand and imense block of rock crystal until finally the perfect Skull emerged.

It is at least 3,600 years old and according to legend was used by the High Priest of the Maya when performing esoteric rites. It is said that when he willed death with the help of the skull, death invariably followed. It has been described as the embodiment of all evil. I do not wish to try and explain this phenomena."

The many references that Mitchell-Hedges had made about the bad luck or the willing of people to death by the crystal skull have been found to be the figments of his own very colorful and vivid imagination.

There is no scientific proof whatsoever that the crystal skull has been responsible for any harm falling on a person or any miraculous healing or other miracle.

I find it very strange and fascinating that while I have been studying the skulls which have been found throughout the world for a number of many years, I have answers for almost none of the important questions about the Mitchell-Hedges crystal skull. Although there are set or "stock" answers for many of the questions which are constantly being asked, I cannot honestly say that anyone knows with any degree of certainty who made the skull, how it was made, when it was made or what purpose it actually served.

These questions remain unanswered. The mysterious and some what confusing origin of the skull have added to its fictional legend and left ample room for those who seek their own interpretation to fill in the blanks with what ever they find meaningful. [End]

From Ellie: In my opinion - the history of the crystal - as reported by Mitchell Hedge is a hoax.



MAYA

In the summer of 1995 I met a wonderful woman who has come to be a great friend. Her name is Jane Doherty. Jane has a crystal skull she calls Maya, which she purchased in Mexico several years ago. I sponsored Jane, Maya, and Joshua Shapiro.

Joshua, Jane, and I ran two research workshops in the fall of 1995. One was at my home. Twelve psychics who live in different states worked with Maya. The second workshop was in Manhattan at a Metaphysical Learning Center. Jane uses Maya to do psychic work and healings.

Jane...Maya....Joshua....Ellie September 1995



July 1999 - Personal Research

Crystal skulls - like all crystals - are record keepers. They amplify energy. They develop holograms in them as per their experiences.

There are old crystal skulls that exist in the physical. If they were created by extraterrestrials I am not connected to that information. I do know that many skulls are made from very old crystal, and are very powerful. Some seem to be encoded with messages. Of course most old crystals, let's say 10,000 years old, would contain many messages as they have picked up manyfrequencies through their time here.

I believe that the real crystal skulls do not exist in this dimension.

The questing for the skulls is what opens many people up to find their spiritual truths.

It is no different than questing for the Holy Grail, Rennes le Chateau - the Hall of Records - or other secrets than awaken the encoded message with you.

We all have our triggers. The crystal skull are just another part of a greater picture.

I have been working with 12 crystal skulls that exist in another dimension. They interact with each other. They are part of the balance of this planet. They each contain creational keys of light.


I currently own two small crystal skulls. The first one is two inches high. I found it on a trip to Nevada in 1993. He told me his name was Jasper. (Objects speak to me). In 1995 I met a woman who works with Tibet Monks. She held the skull in her hand and said, "His name is Jasper!" Jasper is smoky quartz, is about 2 inches, and sits proudly with many of my other crystals, most of which have been given to me as gifts through the years. Jasper has developed holograms within him through the years. The internal changing of crystals in color, clarity, and holographic projections will happen over time.

My friend, Karen, gave me my second crystal skull in May of 1996. I named him Zach. He four inches high and the same type of crystal with the addition of gold rubilated lines that run through him. He sits on my livingroom window with Jasper.


In 1996 I attending the first Star Knowledge Conference, in South Dakota. There I worked with a crystal skull known as ET. It is owned but a special lady - Joke - pronounced YooKay. This skull told me that it will be activated by a specific harmonic frequencies in the near future.


"ET" is a smoky quartz skull found in the early 20th Century in Central America. It was given its nickname because its pointed cranium and exaggerated overbite make it look like the skull of an alien being.


Skull From London Museum

This Ancient Crystal Skull contains a hologram of a UFO.
It also depicts the separation of the right and left side of the brain.
The picture was taken by my friend Linda in 1992.



CRYSTAL SKULL MEDITATION WITH MUSIC By Ellie
BLUE STAR MAIDEN CRYSTAL SKULL
SOCIETY OF CRYSTAL SKULLS
CRYSTALS INDEX ALPHABETICAL INDEX OF ALL FILES CRYSTALINKS MAIN PAGE
Photo of the Mitchell Hedges Crystal Skull - Copyright Nick Nocerino