Welcome to Skull Week!
It is a little like Shark Week, except with skulls. Skullnado anyone?
Part of the reason I wanted to share some goodness about skullies with you is that we are coming up on October and we will be inundated with crystal skull pictures. and I know you are thinking what I was thinking more than 15 years ago, what’s with the crystal skull thing?
Well, past life Angie, I am here to share a little history of Crystal Skulls in modern consciousness. I have to warn you, some of you will be disappointed at the lack of woo in this piece, because it is mostly a debunking of the mystical origins of crystal skulls, and yet, I totally love skulls. I think they have spiritual and mystical value, even if they are not 10,000 years old and placed here by extraterrestrials. If you like that mythology, cool. You do you, boo, but this is my research monkey hat coming out, jumping on my head, and saying, the truth is out there.
Other things that may or may not happen this week: a skull-y tarot spread a guided skull meditation, my first guest blog feature from Julie Taylor about Skulls and her personal journey with skulls, and then an excerpt from my journal work with one of my skulls. Enjoy Skull week!
Crystal Skulls are available at almost any rock and gem show you attend. Whether carved by master carver Leandro de Souza or by anonymous master skull carvers, these carved masterpieces bring intrigue and mystery. I know as a Crystal Expert, I am frequently asked about Skulls. Some people are almost repulsed by them, confused about why they are around, asking questions like:
“Who would work with them and why?”
“What are they?”
”They are so morbid. Why would anyone buy them?”
Others are immediately drawn to them. It is interesting because I have seen people almost repulsed by them, later become devotees. While skulls are widely available, there are a handful of crystal skulls that have captivated many and fueled intense controversy among archaeologists, scientists, spiritualists, and museum officials for more than a century. Their legends blend elements of mystery, history, and mythology.
A dozen of these rare crystal skulls in private and public collections, some crystal clear, others of smoky or colored quartz, are actual human size and of very fine detail, while others are smaller and less refined. All are believed to originate from Mexico and Central America. Many believe these skulls were carved thousands or even tens of thousands of years ago by an ancient Mesoamerican civilization. Others think they may be relics from the legendary island of Atlantis or proof that extraterrestrials visited the Aztec sometime before the Spanish conquest.
Among the most well-known legends is that of the 13 original crystal skulls, which are thought to play a significant role in the elevation of human consciousness. I’ll get into that below.
Joshua Shapiro, coauthor of Mysteries of the Crystal Skulls Revealed, shares an insight into what draws people to work with skulls, "We believe the Crystal Skulls are a form of computer which are able to record energy and vibration that occur around them...The skull will pictorially replay all events or images of the people who have come into contact with them (i.e. they contain the history of our world)."
Most archaeologists and scientists are skeptical, and I will get into that below, but in terms of pre-Columbian artwork and artisan work in the Americas, particularly among the Aztec in Mexico, skulls figure prominently in artwork and iconography, so the connection between skulls and Mesoamerican culture seems like a natural historical fit.
The Legend of the 13 Crystal Skulls
There is a channeling from Harley Swift-Deer Reagan about 13 original crystal skulls that says when all the 13 crystal skulls from the Americas are together again, there will be a dawn of a new era. All the collective consciousness and knowledge of the world will be available to humans. The skulls are said to represent cosmic significance: 12 of the skulls supposedly correlate with planets, while the 13th skull, located at the center of the circle, symbolizes collective consciousness. The belief is that once these skulls are reunited, they will trigger a spiritual awakening, raising the consciousness of the planet.
Harley Swift Deer Reagan claimed that when the 12 skulls were arranged in a circle with the 13th in the middle, representing higher knowledge, that is when we could expect this consciousness awakening. However, there is some ambiguity about whether these skulls come from our planetary system or from another. Initially believed to be located in South America and connected to the ancient Mayan civilization, the skulls are now thought to be scattered around the world.
There is a lot to say about Harley Swift-Deer Reagan. His lineage as a Cherokee and/or Navajo medicine person has been called into question. I was taught by my mentor Hibiscus Moon that he was of mixed ancestry with Cherokee and had trained with a medicine person in the “Navajo” tribe, or maybe Cherokee. This is the thing about these fake lineages: they are fake. They don’t make sense, and we repeat them as though they should be taken seriously. Not only did he not seem to have any Native heritage, he also didn’t train with any Native medicine people of the Americas. There is an extensive post from Friederich Abel, a journalist who spend time with the Navajo people in the Southwest. After he retired, he researched Swift-Deer for lineage and truthiness, and it seemed he was simply bamboozling the new-age community. I loved Mr. Abel’s research and care in this subject. As someone who never wants to subscribe to this culturally appropriated new-agey history, I feel it is my responsibility to debunk his channelings and really correct the record. Mr. Abel’s post was so comprehensive that I thought it important to give you an opportunity to read it yourself. The link to the original post is in this pdf, if you want to read other people’s thoughts on his research as well, but I find it compelling enough to nix all of Swift-Deer’s so-called channelings.
Back to the skulls, there are a number of these “original skulls” that travel around the country. They are human-sized, and each one of them is said to be a depository of certain information, so they need to communicate with each other. And this is the thing with skull work, having skulls in your collection helps connect you with that universal consciousness and the original 13 skulls. I have heard they need to be clear quartz crystal, but I know that many of us collect skulls of all types of crystals and stones. People meditate on their skull’s name, their certain knowledge set, and connect them to themselves and other skulls.
The legend centers around 13 original crystal skulls, though, some of which are said to have been “discovered” on archaeological expeditions. Others came to the owner through mystical means. Some well-known skulls are "MAX," "Synergy," and "Sha Na Ra." According to Jodi Serota, MAX’s caretaker:
"MAX is considered by many, including the British Museum, to be one of the rarest artifacts ever found. Estimated to be at least 10,000 years old, MAX was found in a tomb in Guatemala in the 1920’s. Used by Mayan priests for healing and prayer, the skull was given to Norbu Chen, a powerful healer of the Tibetan sect of Red Hat Lamas for use in his journey as a healer.
Max, along with other ancient crystal skulls, remains a mystery with regard to its origin, including who carved it and where it is from. Many who have been in the presence of these crystal skulls feel that they are from other dimensional realms and perhaps were used by ancient civilizations (including Atlantis and Lemuria) to sustain contact between Star Beings and the human race.
Others who have touched the skulls have had a range of experiences including receiving instantaneous healing, information, visions of other worlds and the experience of unusual sounds and expanded intuitive abilities. To this day, MAX is used as a tool for awakening consciousness and accelerating healing and growth on all levels."
You can read the fascinating history of Sha Na Ra here.
Origins & Doubts
The idea that these crystal skulls are ancient, perhaps originating from sunken civilizations like Atlantis or Lemuria, or even extraterrestrial sources, has been the obvious point of contention. Some suggest they may be from the Pleiades star cluster. However, historical and archaeological evidence often contradict these claims. When you have sources like channelings or impressions, it is impossible to prove lineage.
Despite being attributed to pre-Columbian Mesoamerican cultures like the Aztecs or Maya, none of the skulls in museum collections have been unearthed from verified archeological excavations. In fact, the type of quartz used in many of these skulls does not come from the regions where they were supposedly found. Archaeologists and scientists have determined that the skulls were likely made using modern lapidary techniques, which were not available in ancient times. For example, tests on crystal skulls held by institutions like the British Museum and the Smithsonian reveal that they were carved using rotary tools and abrasives standard in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Early Skull Discoveries & Debunking Myths
One of the earliest known crystal skulls brought to the British Museum in 1856 was a small artifact whose origins remain unclear. By 1863, larger skulls appeared, often associated with collectors such as the French antiquities dealer Eugène Boban, known for selling Mesoamerican artifacts. Boban’s skulls and others acquired during the same period were examined and determined to have been carved with modern equipment.
One of the most famous crystal skulls, the Mitchell-Hedges skull, is often cited in discussions about the legend. However, the origin story told by its owners, Mitchell-Hedges and his daughter Anna, has been largely discredited. They claimed to have discovered the skull under a Mayan altar in Belize, but documents show that the skull was actually purchased at a Sotheby’s auction from another collector, Sydney Burney. In 1970, the Mitchell-Hedges skull, or the Skull of Doom, was examined, and experts found it carved with modern tools. Despite these findings, the story of the skull’s supposed powers has continued to inspire fascination.
Modern Skepticism and Scientific Analysis
In the 20th century, many crystal skulls, including those housed at the British Museum and the Smithsonian, underwent scientific scrutiny. Advanced tools like scanning electron microscopes were used to analyze the skulls’ surfaces. Researchers determined that the skulls had been crafted using modern techniques, some as recently as the 1950s. For example, the Smithsonian skull was worked with silicon carbide, a synthetic material that didn’t exist until the late 19th century.
In fact, research from the British Museum points to most of these skulls being crafted in Germany, a region known in the late 19th century for producing detailed quartz and crystal pieces. The type of crystal used in the skulls is thought to come from Brazil or Madagascar, which would have been out of reach for pre-Columbian civilizations.
Given these findings and that none of these skulls have ever been discovered in official archaeological digs, the British Museum believes that the famous crystal skulls are likely not ancient relics but rather modern creations. All that being said, Richard A. Lovett and Scot Hoffman wrote a piece on National Geographic about Crystal Skulls notes, “The fact remains that no one knows for sure who made these skulls and when. And since there is currently no way to determine the age of such inorganic objects accurately, the mystery will likely continue.”
How to use Crystal Skulls
Despite the debunking of the ancient artifact myth, crystal skulls are still powerful tools for those of us who use earth medicine in our personal and professional practice. Crystal skulls are said to hold mystical powers and store ancient knowledge. Meditation with the skull helps unlock this stored information.
Conclusion
While the legend of the crystal skulls has woven its way into popular culture, even inspiring characters like Indiana Jones, much of the narrative has been debunked by modern science. The skulls in major museum collections are now understood to have been crafted with modern equipment, and their connections to ancient Mesoamerican cultures are questionable at best. While some enthusiasts continue attributing mystical significance to certain skulls, the broader archaeological community regards most crystal skulls as 19th-century fabrications.
I share all this information not to poo-poo beliefs in the skulls or their value but to say, do we need a mystical past to find messages in these powerfully carved healing tools? Crystal healers and metaphysical practitioners, maybe partially fueled by the allure of ancient civilizations, cosmic connections, and the tantalizing possibility of hidden knowledge stored within the skulls, have meditated with skulls, channeled incredibly rich and valuable knowledge and messages, and found healing with skull work. There are healers in my area who channel messages from different skulls. Others use them in their healing work. I certainly have and will continue to. I work with an obsidian skull for ancestor work, for example, and a fossilized coral skull for deep healing work with the Earth. While scientific evidence points to a more mundane origin, the mystery of the crystal skulls continues to captivate those who are open to their mystical or extraterrestrial possibilities.
There is an interesting piece in the 2014 Rock and Gem magazine about crystal skulls.