Tuaoi: The
Great Crystal
by
William Michael Donato, M.A. (Anthropology)
Perhaps no single item is as symbolic of the Edgar Cayce
vision of Atlantis as the tuaoi, referred to variously as the "fire
stone", "the great crystal ", and "the terrible, mighty crystal".
Perhaps also has no other single item generated as much controversy as to what
it actually was. Ideas run the gamut from supernatural cosmic energy source to
a quasi-science fiction gravity wave attenuator. If Edgar Cayce's view of
Atlantis as a civilization whose history covered an incredible span of some
200,000 years is correct and that this singular device was one of their
greatest technical achievements,then perhaps we should pay closer attention as
to what he actually said it was, especially since this society was
described as being superior to our own in some very significant areas.
When I wrote my master's thesis, A Re-Examination Of
The Atlantis Theory, in anthropology in 1978, a section on the Edgar Cayce
version of the Atlantis story was included as well as a semantic analysis of
the words, terms, and phrases used by Cayce in his description of the device
and what might be contemporary analogs to the processes, components, and
functions of the tuaoi. Information from that material and other research is
included herein.
What Was It Linguistically? The Name Tuaoi.
The very name, "tuaoi", seems to have some
potentially significant linguistic associations with cultures that are believed
to have connections with Atlantis, possibly even inferring a parent, or
"proto" language. The linguistic associations seem to be with the
Guanche language of the Canary Islands, Mayan (especially Yucatec) , what might
be termed "proto-Mediterranean", and possibly Iroquoian.
From research spanning nearly two decades the bulk of the
data seems to suggest that the "language" of any hypothetical
Atlanteans would be based on agglutination with strong onomatopoetic elements
used in word formation. In agglutinating languages words are formed by joining
two significant words or roots in a single word which expresses a combination
of the two meanings. Onomatopoeia refers to an imitation of natural sounds in
word formation, as calling a cat a "meow" or a cow a "moo".
The farther back in time we go the greater the extent of agglutinating
languages we find. Basque (Euskara), the native American languages, the Oceanic
languages., the sub-Saharan African languages, the pre-Indo European languages
of Europe, as well as the languages of a substantial part of Asia before the spread
of more recent tongues are, or were, agglutinating languages. If there was ever
a single language on the earth as the Bible states, it was in all probability
be an agglutinating language with strong onomatopoetic elements. Mayan, in
particular "Old Yucatec", shows a very strong onomatopoetic component
possibly connecting it to the ancient languages. If Cayce's term "fire
stone' is close to a literal translation of the word "tuaoi", then we
have something definite to work from.
[Before continuing there is some controversy as to how
"tuaoi" was pronounced: one version is t"oo-oi", the other
"twah-oi". Perhaps "too-ah-oi" run together?]
In Old Yucatec Mayan (or "Mayathan", "Maya
tongue" or "Maya speech") "took" means
"fiery", "burning" (consult Knorosov's The Writing of
the Maya Indians, pp: 79-80). In Greek, an Indo-European language with an
ancient Mediterranean (or proto-Mediterranean) substratum, we have
"oros", "mountain". At this point we might recall Plato's
Atlantean metal "orichalkon" (the 'ch" is pronounced like
"k") meaning "mountain copper" (the Latin version is
orichalcum). In word formation we see the second "o" of
"oros" is changed to an "i" and the "s" is
dropped. Our own English word "orogeny", "mountain
building" (a term used in geology), is derived from the same source. Next
we go the Guanche (from "guan", "man" in Guanche) language
of the Canary Islands. On Tenerife in the Canaries is an area called the Valley
of Orotava. Volcanic action is known to have removed a portion of that island
(see A. Samler Brown, 1905, Brown's Madeira, Canary Islands and Azores,
f 3, f 14). "Orotava" in English would mean "mountain of
fire", "fire-mountain", or, more literally, "mountain-
fire" ("oro", "mountain", and "tava",
"fire"). What would be a more fitting term for a volcano? Using some
well established principles of glottochronology we can set up a hypothetical
evolution of "tava". The first "a" might be dropped,
leaving us with "tva". The voiced labio-dental fricature "v"
could become the voiceless (not using the "'voice box") bilabial
semivowel "w". Therefore we might go from "tava" to"
tva", to "twa". Perhaps it even goes further back to
"too-a". [By the way "oro" may also mean "circular"
or "round", as the base of volcanoes, and mountains in general are
usually circular as is the shape of the mouth when pronouncing it]. Another
possible connection with the "oi" component may come from reading
1219-1 were Cayce interprets an Iroquois name, "Hu-loi", as meaning
"running water". If the onomatopoetic theory holds, "hu"
would be the sound of a person expelling air from their lungs as they run.
"Loi" would refer to water,' and I expect it especially signifies
water that is moving where there is a play of reflected light. According to
several native American traditions quartz crystal is associated with water,
probably because of its clarity, the way it reflects light, and its similarity
in appearance to ice. Perhaps "oi", in a more specific sense means
"crystal" (quartz) as another reading suggests that "tek'"
(the sounding of chipping something off of a rock?) may refer to the general
term "stone". Pulling it all together then "tuaoi" would
mean "fire (fiery or burning) stone" (or "crystal").
What Was The Tuaoi And What Did It Do?
It is obvious from the readings that initially the tuaoi
was not a power generator. Cayce states that "there were many generations
of difference" between what was first called tuaoi and what it lent its
name to later on. Our own culture has numerous analogs to "re-appropriating"
names of certain articles to others or even of places. For example,
"crystal" does not now specifically refer to quartz but might refer
to anything having a regular latticework (such as an "iron crystal"
or a "sulfur crystal"). Reading 2072-10 gives the clearest explanation
of this dichotomy: "It was in the form" of a six-sided figure in
which the light appeared as the means of communication between infinity and the
finite; or the means whereby there were communications with those forces from
the outside. Later this came to mean that from which the energies radiated, as
of the center from which there were radial activities- guiding the forms of
transition or travel through those periods of activity of the Atlanteans".
He also states that "it was set as a crystal". The fact that the
initial form "six-sided"and (the later power producing version was
cylindrical) "set as a crystal" suggests that it may have been of
quartz as the first definition of crystal in most dictionaries is
"quartz". It is possible that the "light" that appeared may
have indicated that it was asteriated quartz, though something else such as a
piezoelectric or pyroelectric effect could also be indicated as could something
of psychic derivation. Reading 1474-1 speaks of a "princess of royal blood
-one that had supervision of that stone uupon which the light of heaven shone
for the blessings of man -that brought divinations to the people as to their
relationship to the godly forces as might find expression". Reading 5037-1
speaks of "a priestess, a keeper of the white stone or that through which
many of the people before the first destructions in Atlantis kept their accord
with the universal consciousness through speaking to and through those
activities". Reading 3004-1 speaks of "messages received through the
crystals and the fires that were to be the eternal fires of nature".
Reading 2464-2 speaks of "Rhea, as the "high priestess" and how
concentrated thought was employed for the use of the "universal
forces". If this "Rhea" was connected like the previously
mentioned priestess with the "stone through which the "light of
heaven" shone then we may have a connection to a well known Greek myth. In
the myth the titan Rhea wants to save her newly born son Zeus ("the sky
father") from Kronos ("Time") and so gives him a stone wrapped
like a baby to devour in his place as there had been a prophecy. that one of
the children of Kronos would overthrow him, whereupon he devoured each child as
it was born [This myth may also have some astronomical significance]. Zeus is
listed as an Atlantean in reading 390-2. Though some may think that this
"first version" of the tuaoi is an equivalent of a glorified
"crystal ball", I think that it is more like an Atlantean analog to
the Hebrew Ark of the Covenant, and seems to have served the same function in
regard to being a "connection" to the divine.
The later version of the tuaoi differed both in form and
function. Reading 877-26 given on May 23, 1938 speaks of "rays from the
sun, amplified by crystals". Reading 813-1 given on February 5th of 1935
speaks "of the storage of the motivative forces from the great crystals
that so condensed the lights" while reading 440-5 speaks of "the
concentration through the prisms or glass" and "the concentration of
rays from the stone". Three words are especially significant in the
preceding passages and they are "amplified", "condensed",
and "'concentration", all of which relate to the function of the
crystal (or crystals) with regard to "rays" or "the
lights". Though a magnifying glass may be able to bring the suns rays to a
focus, the only device that actually amplifies light rays using other
energies is the laser, whose name means llight aamplification
by the sstimulated emission of rradiation. Laser light is
highly concentrated, packing far more power in a smaller area than ordinary
light. The word condensed might refer to "condensing" the lights
frequency and is also a good alternative for the word coherence, the unique
property of laser light that allows for holography. If we take all three of the
words just mentioned together with respect to light we come up with only one
thing: laser. If there is any doubt that the laser is what was described
let's look to reading 262-39 which describes the "Death Ray, or the super
cosmic ray, that will be found in the next 25 years". From the general
gist of the reading this seems to be a variant of the firestone. In 1958,
25 years after Cayce's reading, 'Prof. Charles H. Townes and Arthur C. Schawlow
published a paper entitled "Infrared and Optical Masers" which laid
the ground work for the development of the laser. In 1959, the operating
frequency of maser type devices had been thrust up to the optical region
creating the laser (see Arthur H. Klein, 1963, Masers and Lasers).
If the tuaoi, or firestone, was a laser, what type was
it? Cayce said that the force which emanated from it "arose in the form of
rays that were invisible to the eye". What form of light rays are
"invisible to the eye"? Two candidates present themselves: infrared
and ultraviolet. Infrared rays are basically heat rays and have a number of
unique uses. Ultraviolet rays can cause chemical reactions, produce sunburn,
and cause ionization. They also have more energy or power than infrared rays or
visible light. This wider range of application for the more energetic
ultraviolet rays and its ability to produce ionization seems more in line with
some of the properties and applications of the "fire stones" rays.
Cayce speaks of "the raising of the powers from the sun itself to a ray
that makes for the disintegration of the atom". Ionization is the process
whereby atoms gain or lose electrons and the latter such process could
certainly be said to be a "disintegration" especially if it is complete
ionization, which could result in a plasma state where only positive and
negative charges would be present without matter.
The tuaoi, or firestone, was of a particular construction
whose materials and design elements seem to imply a highly advanced scaled up
version of an ultraviolet laser. Cayce constantly refers to the device as a
"crystal" which Webster defines as"transparent quartz".
Quartz is one of the few transparent substances that will transmit both
infrared and ultraviolet rays. Ordinary glass will not transmit ultraviolet
rays but quartz crystal glass will. Quartz is optically clear, and is both
piezoelectric and pyroelectric. It is physically stronger than glass and can be
heated to the glowing point and quenched in ice water without shattering.
Quartz tubes are currently used in some gaseous lasers precisely because of
these properties. Irradiated quartz has even been used in a two-level maser
(see J.S. Thorp, Masers and Lasers - Physics and Design p. 79). The body
of the firestone is described as "a large cylindrical glass". If the
word "glass" is used to imply something resembling a drinking glass,
then the cylinder was hollow. The process going on within the crystal had to do
with the "breaking apart of atomic forces", and mention is made of
"gaseous forces". These terms seem to support the idea of a hollow
cylinder with gas or gases inside. Presumably the capstone of the crystal was
of the same substance as the cylindrical body. The capstone itself was cut with
facets in such a way that they would make for "centralizing the power or
force that concentrated between the end of the cylinder and the capstone
itself" (440-5). If it was cut in this manner for a process going on inside
the crystal then it must have been focusing external energies for an internal
effect.
It is now that we come to the process going on in the
crystal itself. Reading 877-26 states: "These were not only rays from the
sun, amplified by crystals, but were the combinations of these." "For
it was these gases, that were used for what we call today the conveniences as
for light, heat, the motivative forces: or radial activity, electrical
combinations: the motivative forces of steam, gas and the like - for the
conveniences". Here we have a direct connection between the crystals and
gases. What was going on? According to Cayce the crystal made use of "the
concentration of energies that emanate from bodies that are on fire themselves,
along with elements that are found and not found in the earth's
atmosphere". Reading 263-4 mentions "crystals into the pits that made
for the connections with the internal influences of the earth". What force
do these two readings have in common that is being used by the firestone? Heat!
The sun's rays (and other stars) and geothermal energy are apparently being
used to power the device. Photo-ionization, particle collision, and thermal
ionization can all serve as "pumping" elements in a laser. When we
put the preceding readings information all together we come up with the
following scenario. We have a quartz housing for a gaseous ultraviolet laser
that receives its activity, or pumping action, from the sun's heat (and light).
The facets on the capstone bring the sun's rays to an intensely sharp focus in
the center of the tube (cylinder). The gaseous mixture ionizes with oppositely
charged particles collecting at the top (base of the capstone) of the cylinder
and at its base. This ionization brings up the energy level of the gaseous
mixture. As in all lasers the energy can be released with an incident signal
from the equivalent of a "trigger: electrode", something that gives
it just the "extra kick" that it needs. Electrical connections at the
bottom of the cylinder can act as the trigger electrode. Upon a
"signal" the energy is released as the atoms return to a lower energy
state (ground level) until the process is repeated.
What elements might the gaseous mixture have contained?
Dr. John H. Sutton who wrote "The Tuaoi Stone -An Enigma" in The
A.R.E. Journal (Yol. IX, Jan. 1974, No 1. p. 29) suggests that
"deuterium and/or hydrogen" may have been used, but his interpretation
of the functioning of the tuaoi differs considerably. In reading 440-5 Cayce
states that "the activity of the stone was received from the sun's rays,
or from the stars; the concentrating of energies that emanate from bodies that
are on fire themselves -with the elements that are found and not found in the
earth's atmosphere". In other words, the thermal energy reacted with
elements within the crystal itself, the suggestion being that two or more
elements were used, and since the term "atmosphere" is employed, at
least one was a gas. Helium, for example, was first discovered in the sun's
spectrum and then in wells in Texas. It is also used in several gas lasers,
usually as a sort of carrier of the energy in combination with other gases (such
as neon in the helium neon laser). The substances that will lase are quite
numerous, even oxygen will lase. One might wonder whether ozone would also lase
since it is a more "energetic" form of oxygen and absorbs strongly in
the ultraviolet. Both hydrogen (found in the stars) and argon lase in the
ultraviolet region. Krypton fluoride lases in the extreme ultraviolet. Metallic
vapors have even been made to lase. Whatever gases (or other substances) were
used, the "active elements" will have to be determined through
experimentation as the Cayce material gives too few clues on this particular
aspect of the tuaoi.
The housing of the firestone seems to suggest a device
that generates a considerable amount of heat in its operation (just as laser's
do). The center of the building was said to be "lined with non-conductive
stone -something akin to asbestos, with the combined forces of bakerite"
or other non-conductors "that are now (1933) being manufactured in England
under a name that is well known to many of those who deal in such things".
Serpentine is a form of asbestos (chrysotile), is a thermal
non-conductor, and is used as an ornamental (or building) stone. Bakerite is a
form of boracite obtained from boax deposits (consult Edward S. Dana, Dana's
Textbook on Mineralogy, 1966, pp. 674,742). Perhaps tungsten was one of the
non-conductive metals. The crystal was in the center of the building over which
there was a large "oval" dome that could be rolled back for it to
receive the full "activity of the sun and stars". A very straight
forward way to stop, or modify, the amplification process would be to simply
close the dome.
The uses of the crystals were myriad.
"Q"-switching, which would take advantage of the piezoelectric
qualities of the quartz, might even have been used to enhance the output.
"Induction methods" were used so that the rays from the stone acted
directly "upon the motivating forces" in the various modes of travel.
To put it more simply, power was beamed to the vehicles. An ultraviolet laser
ionizes the air directly in front of the beam, forming an electrically
conducting pathway through the air so that electricity can literally be sent
through the air from one point to another, which seems to be implied by the
passage "in the radius of the visioning of the one-eye" as laser
light, travels in straight lines (line of sight). The wireless transmission of
power has been the dream of scientists for a long time and the laser has opened
the door to this very thing. The "motivating forces in the crafts
themselves" may imply smaller crystals set in the vehicles themselves
which would re-amplify or moderate the energy, as when laser light passes
through another laser crystal it is amplified. Such systems would require far
less "hardware" than conventional systems. Receiving systems might
also employ special prisms, lenses, or mirrors to alter the energy for use.
Doubtless some devices might use solely the electrical component of the beam
and others the coherent light property ranging from specialized applications to
utilitarian functions like lighting, heating, and communication. Needless to
say the laser finds applications in all of these areas. Cayce also stated that
individuals bodies "were regenerated, by the burning -through application
of the rays from the stone, the influences that brought destructive forces to
an animal organism" (440-5). Perhaps we are on the right track with the
new process whereby laser light is used in conjunction with fiber optic tubes
to "burn" away the excess plaque lining the arteries. Reading 813-1
mentions that these "condensed" lights were used "to guide ships
at sea and in the air and in conveniences of the body as television and
recording voice." Laser guidance systems are in common usage in the space
program and in the military. Television programs have been transmitted over
laser beams. Recording on compact disks uses a laser system. Cayce also
mentioned "transmission of the body" as one of the device's
application. Some may think that this refers to teleportation, but may not the
word "body" also mean simply the form of something? One of Webster's
definitions of "body" is "anything existing in three dimensional
space". If such is the case then Cayce may have been referring to that unique
use of coherent laser light, holography, the transmission of three dimensional
images. The readings also contain information that may suggest a geothermal
connection with the crystal (or crystals, as Cayce said in several readings).
Cayce stated that the rays "were turned on crystals in the pits that made
connections with the internal influences of the earth". Perhaps they were
being used to regulate the temperature of magma pools or of heating underground
water sources (or both). At any rate, when the sons of Belial turned these rays
on the crystals in the pits "a volcanic upheaval" ensued. Apparently
they overloaded the system, which also seems to be implied as to what happened
when the crystals were unintentionally "tuned too high" (human
error?) which brought about the second period of destruction. Lasers are also
"tuned". If ones primary energy source is connected to other
subsidiary systems a problem at the source will be felt all the way down the
line. Doubtless overloads and explosions resulted from tuning the crystals too
high.
According to the readings, the firestone, or tuaoi, was
used for thousands of years. If it was so effective, our own civilization would
obviously benefit from its re-creation. If Cayce was right there are clues in
ancient records as to how to construct a "firestone" and as to what
it looked like.
The Emblem of the Firestone
Cayce said that "the records of the manners of
construction of same are in three places in the earth". One of these
places was Poseidia, "near what is known as Bimini", "in the temple
records that were in Egypt, and also the records that were carried to what is
now Yucatan in America". This reading, given on December 30, 1933, stated
that "during the last few months" these stones "that they know
so little about" were being uncovered. Cayce stated that "in Yucatan
there is the emblem" of the firestone and went on to say that the stones
would be brought to the U.S. with a portion to be carried "to the
Pennsylvania State Museum", and another portion to be carried "to the
Washington preservations of such findings, or to Chicago". The
"Washington preservations of such findings' may be the Carnegie
Institution of Washington or perhaps the Smithsonian Institution. Chicago may
refer to the University of Chicago, or perhaps a museum there. It is obvious
that Cayce's use of "Yucatan" refers to the Peninsula, not just the
state, as the University of Pennsylvania was excavating on the Yucatan
Peninsula in 1933, but it was in Guatamala at the site known as Piedras Negras
("Black Rock"). From 1931 until 1938 expeditions were under the
direction of E. R. Johnson. Other names associated with the site are J.A.
Mason, who published in the University Museum Bulletin in 1931 and 1932
(Vol.III, No.1, and Vol.III, No.6) as well as National Geographic Magazine
in 1935 (Vol.LXV, No.5). Dr. Linton Satterthwaite, Jr., published works on the
site in 1936 (Maya Research, Vol. III, No.1, and the University
Museum Bulletin,Vol.VI, No.5) and 1937 (Publications of the Philadelphia
Anthropological Society, Vol. I). Dr. Satterthwaite may have been working
at the site in 1933. Cayce went on to describe where the stones were located at
the site, giving a description which
very much matches a map of the site as can be seen from
the illustration in George Andrews Maya Cities (1975, pp.133-139). The
small rectangles represent stelae, the circle represent altars, and the squares
represent other objects. Here is how Cayce described the location: "The
stones that are set in the front of the temple, between the service temple and
the outer court temple -or the priest activity, for later there arose (which
may give a better idea of what is meant) the activities of the Hebrews from
this -in the altar that stood before the door of the tabernacle. This altar or
stone, then, in Yucatan, stands between the activities of the priest (for, of
course, this is degenerated from the original use and purpose, but is the
nearest and closest one to being found)". Reading 440-12 continues in the
description: "Rather sufficient would it be that there be particular
precaution in the uncovering of the stone, or what may appear in the uncovering
of what might be termed the sun dial that lies between the temple and the
chambers, or opposite temple -where sacrifices were made. For this is the
place, is the stone -though erosion has made an effect upon same in which the
body will be particularly interested as related to the other forces or
expeditions". When Cayce referred to the "sun dial" he may have
been referring to the upright vertical member known as a gnomon. There is one
item unique to the site of Piedras Negras which may have a significant bearing
on what Cayce was describing. This is the "column altar", which,
curiously enough, may evoke memories of Plato's version of Atlantis where the
blood of sacrificed bulls was poured over a column of orichalkon , which
by this act apparently served a function to an altar. As The Handbook of
Middle American Indians reports in Handbook of Southern Meso-America,
Part 1, "a considerable number of temple structures investigated
showed lines of these evident focal points of ceremony, set along the central
axes "p, 466). As the account continues: "Many of these altars had
also been set in position with caches beneath them. The pairing of altars and
caches continued, over a long period. The offerings were frequently composed of
a specialized cache vessel, of a form seemingly unique to Piedras Negras, the
interior of which was smeared with a lime paste". Piedras Negras showed a
predilection in the offertory caches for marine material (Ibid., p. 467). If
these "column altars" were "focal points of ceremony" and
set along central axes, might they not have been serving a sun dial type of
function? I think it very possible. Cayce also said that erosion had had its
effect upon the stone. This may indicate that it was carved of limestone",
or simply that it was out in the open for a long time, or both. Whether the
term "emblem" refers to a glyph or symbol or a picture (possibly a
geometric figure?) is not clear.
In conclusion, I hope that the material presented here
has shown that contrary to what critics have said, the Cayce material provides
specific information which can be investigated and does yield fruitful
results. The readings describing the "great crystal" were given decades
before the creation of the laser, yet every property described for it fits a
specific type of high powered laser generator/transmitter system. The
description given for the location of the stones fits the configuration of the
Piedras Negras site with remarkable accuracy. The unique "column
altars" may have been exactly what Cayce was describing. The next chapter
in the unfolding of the story of the "fire-stone" must be written by
us as we continue the research. Aside from filling in our knowledge of the
past, perhaps we could gain as much from re-creating this device as the
Atlanteans did. Perhaps, just perhaps, we will even learn from their
experience.
-end-